Cashing Out Your 401(k) From An Old Job: A Quick Guide

Here at Capitalize, we’re all about the 401(k) rollover. We want Americans to have greater control over their retirement planning, and rolling over a 401(k) to an IRA (or Individual Retirement Account) can be one of the best ways to maintain that control.

But what if you want to access your money now? Here, we’ll answer some of the common questions related to cashing out your 401(k). (Spoiler alert: It may not be the best move for your retirement savings plan.)

How do you cash out your old 401(k)?

Cashing out your 401(k) after leaving a job is an easy process with only a few steps:

1. Determine how much of your 401(k) you’d like to cash out.
2. Call or contact your previous 401(k) plan administrator.
3. Request that your account be liquidated at the close of the next business day. Alternatively, you could choose to liquidate only a portion of your account for withdrawal; you don’t need to cash out the entire account.
4. Have the administrator send the requested cash-out amount to your mailing address via paper check (made out to you as an individual) or to your bank account via ACH or wire.
5. Wait several days to receive the money.

Important note: Your 401(k) plan administrator will likely withhold 20% of the withdrawal amount for federal income tax. This is to ensure the IRS receives its share of your withdrawal. The procedure may vary here, so ask about tax withholdings when you contact the plan administrator and ask them if there are any additional taxes you should be aware of.

Finding your old 401(k)

It’s not uncommon to lose track of your old 401(k) accounts. In fact, one of the questions we hear most often is “can I find my 401(k) with my social security number?” The answer is absolutely! You can easily find your 401(k) by using Capitalize’s 401(k) Finder tool. The process can help you quickly locate your old 401(k) if you need to cash out your savings.

What does it mean to cash out your 401(k)?

“Cashing out” your 401(k) is just another way of saying “taking money out” of your retirement plan. When you take money out of your employer’s plan, it’s yours to spend, pur in a savings account, invest, or use in whatever way you see fit. This is not to say you’ll be free of taxes and early distribution penalties, though—we’ll explore this later.

Note that cashing out your 401(k) and rolling over your 401(k) are two entirely different processes with different tax and financial planning consequences. Rolling over your retirement account, if done properly, should not result in a tax bill or penalty fees; cashing out your 401(k) will typically result in a tax penalty and/or early withdrawal penalties depending on your age, tax bracket, and a variety of other factors, which is why it’s commonly used as a last resort.

How long does it take to cash out your 401(k) after leaving a job?

If you opt to cash out your 401(k), you’ll need to contact your 401(k) plan provider and have them send you the money either electronically or via paper check. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Advantages of cashing out your 401(k)

There are some advantages to cashing out your 401(k), namely:

You’ll receive an immediate cash inflow.

Depending on how badly you need the money, cashing out your 401(k) will provide valuable liquidity. In certain situations, the need to meet an urgent expense can override the need to save for retirement, though it’s important to exercise caution if you choose to do this.

You’ll remove restricted access to your money.

Let’s face it—a 401(k) plan is designed to help you save for retirement, which for many people is more than a decade away. You’ll be hit with taxes and penalty fees if you want to access your money early, but at least the remaining money will be all yours.

Disadvantages of cashing out your 401(k)

You’ll see — very quickly — why cashing out may not be the best idea. Some considerations include:

You’ll owe tax on any distributions (assuming it’s a pre-tax 401(k)).

When you put money into a 401(k), you receive a tax deduction in the current year. When you remove it, you’ll pay ordinary income tax, or “taxable income,” on any distributed amount. That tax bill is coming whether you take money out as a 30-year-old or a 60-year-old, so make sure to account for this as part of your tax planning. Note that unlike traditional 401(k)s, Roth 401(k) contributions are made after tax, so once you’re eligible, you can make withdrawals tax-free.

You may owe penalties for cashing out a 401(k) in addition to any taxes due.

Unless you’re eligible to make an IRS-defined hardship withdrawal—and you’re below the penalty-free withdrawal age 59 ½ — you will likely be liable for an additional 10% early withdrawal penalty. These costs can add up quickly and can take a huge bite out of your retirement savings, so make sure you really need the money before you opt to cash out. Consider discussing penalties and tax implications with your financial advisor, who will likely look at the impact on your tax bracket.

You’ll halt compound interest in its tracks.

Compound interest is another way of saying “interest on interest.” It helps your retirement income increase by offering exponential tax-deferred growth over time.

By cashing out your 401(k) early, you’ll be giving up somewhere around 30% of your balance to taxes and penalties. This will substantially reduce your asset base as well as the investment returns you can reasonably stand to expect via tax-deferred growth. Be sure to check your 401(k) account balance before moving forward with cashing out so you understand how much you’ll end up paying in taxes and penalties. Keep in mind, too, that if you cease to make additional contributions, you may miss out on taking advantage of any employer match offerings you may have.

You’ll be faced with the burden of replacing your retirement savings account.

As mentioned earlier, your 401(k) is intended as a retirement savings vehicle. Typically, when the IRS earmarks a certain account for a certain purpose, you’ll get the best results when you use the account as intended. Yes, you can access 401(k) money early, and you’ll certainly pay for the privilege, but you’ll also get a far better result if you view your 401(k) money as a way to cover costs in retirement, allowing the investment returns over time to naturally increase your retirement income.

Are there tax implications of cashing out 401(k) retirement accounts?

Withdrawals from pre-tax 401(k)s are taxed as ordinary income. In other words, they’re taxed at your highest marginal tax rate, the same rate at which your job or freelance income is taxed.

Ordinary income tax is higher than long-term capital gains tax, which is the tax charged on any realized stock gains after you’ve held the stock for a year or longer.

If you have a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA, you won’t pay ordinary income tax when you withdraw money, as you already paid tax on this money when you made contributions to the account. You will still be liable for the 10% early withdrawal penalty, however, if you’re below the retirement age of 59 ½.

The hardship withdrawals exception

If you happen to find yourself up against an immediate and emergent expense—also known as financial hardship—you always have the option of cashing out early to regain access to your money. There are some nuances to what qualifies as an eligible financial hardship (and therefore allows hardship distributions). Some certain circumstances that may qualify include events ranging from medical expenses and medical bills, funeral expenses, foreclosure prevention, or heavy financial needs.

Keep in mind, however, that you’ll only be qualified to take out as much as it takes to meet your demonstrated emergency expenses, and you may still owe the early distribution penalty on any overage, not to mention income taxes. As always, it’s a good idea to talk to a tax professional to assess all your options.

Should you cash out a 401(k)?

In most circumstances, a financial advisor will suggest it’s best to avoid cashing out your 401(k) plan account. If you do, you’ll be on the hook for taxes and/or penalties, and you’ll severely cut into the growth potential of a valuable tax-deferred retirement account.

Again, cashing out your 401(k) is not the same as rolling over your 401(k) account balance, which is, in many cases, a good idea. In fact, a forgotten 401(k) can have a seriously detrimental effect on your retirement savings, even adding years to your working career). Be sure to know the location of each retirement account you own and take active steps to optimize their respective positions.

Alternatives to cashing out a 401(k)

Cashing out a 401(k) comes with many disadvantages, so if you need emergency access to money, you may want to consider one of these alternatives.

Consider a 401(k) loan.

If you haven’t yet left your job, a 401(k) loan may be an option. Similar to cashing out your 401(k), a 401(k) loan against your retirement fund can get you access to the money you need, but it keeps your account open, and technically, you’re paying yourself back for the loan.

However, you’ll need to be cautious with 401(k) loans. If you leave your company, you could be on the hook for paying back the balance due within 60 days, and failure to do so could mean a hefty tax burden.

Assess other low-interest loan options.

There are many low-interest loan options available, whether it’s an unsecured personal loan, a balance transfer credit card, or a home equity loan. In an emergency, it can be tempting to act quickly, but you’ll need to carefully consider options before taking on loan debt. If you have a great credit score or are willing to put up collateral to secure the loan, you could receive a favorable interest rate. Before taking out any loan, many personal finance experts recommend to be sure you have a plan in place to repay the money you owe.

Increase your income.

This one is easy to say but harder to put into practice. Yet if you’re in a financial situation where you’re considering cashing out your 401(k) retirement funds, it might make more sense to try and earn a bit of extra money. If you have the opportunity to sign up for overtime at work, that’s a great way to earn more at a rate that might be higher than what you typically earn. Outside of full-time employment, you can explore various side hustles or gig work, whether online or in person.

Conclusion

Cashing out a 401(k) can be a serious financial decision to make. You may be impacted by taxes and penalties as well as affecting the health of your overall retirement planning, so be sure to speak to a trusted personal financial advisor before you make up your mind. They may be able to help you understand your specific applicability for a hardship withdrawal, and in turn, help you avoid a costly mistake.

As an alternative, a 401(k) rollover can be a better option for your retirement savings if you want to continue your retirement strategy momentum and take advantage of compounding interest. Capitalize can help you locate old 401(k)s and choose an IRA to consolidate them into—all while managing the entire 401(k) rollover process for you, for free.