If you participate in a 401(k), 403(b) or governmental 457(b) retirement plan that has a designated Roth account, you should consider your Roth options. With a designated Roth account, you can: make designated Roth contributions to the account; and if the plan permits, roll over certain amounts in your other plan accounts to the Roth account. Designated Roth contributions Unlike pre-tax salary deferrals, which are not taxed when you contribute them to the plan, you have to pay taxes on your designated Roth contributions. This means your gross income for the year you make designated Roth contributions will be higher than if you had made only pre-tax salary deferrals. However, any pre-tax salary deferrals and related earnings are taxable when you withdraw them from the plan. Roth contributions, on the other hand, are not taxed when you withdraw them from the plan. Earnings on Roth contributions are also not taxed when they are withdrawn from the plan if your withdrawal is a qualified distribution. A “qualified distribution” is a distribution that is made: at least 5 years after the first contribution to your Roth account; and after you’re age 59½ or on account of you being disabled, or to your beneficiary after your death. In-plan Roth rollovers Your plan may allow you to transfer amounts to your Roth account in the plan if the amounts are: eligible rollover distributions from your other plan accounts; or any amounts, including those not otherwise eligible for a distribution, from your other plan accounts. You must include in gross income in the year of transfer any previously untaxed amount you roll over to your designated Roth account. You don’t include in gross income any withdrawal of the amount you rolled over to the Roth account. However, you may have to pay: a special recapture tax; and tax on the earnings on the rolled over amounts that are withdrawn, unless the withdrawal is a qualified distribution. Check with your employer to find out if your plan has a Designated Roth account and whether it allows in-plan Roth rollovers. Related Designated Roth accounts FAQs: Designated Roth Accounts Roth Comparison Chart, Comparison of Roth 401(k), Roth IRA, and Traditional 401(k) Retirement Accounts Roth IRA/Account Chart - Top Ten Differences Between A Roth IRA And A Designated Roth Account Designated Roth Accounts under 401(k), 403(b) or governmental 457(b) plans, Publication 4530) PDF
