If you decide to withdraw from your 401k after a job loss, it’s important to understand the taxes and penalties that come with early withdrawal. In most cases, you’ll need to pay both federal and state income taxes on the amount you withdraw, as well as an additional 10% penalty if you’re under the age of 59 1/2., I originally hoped to find a job soon to continue my plan but after a few months of job searching I feel the need to do something different. My question is should I withdraw from my 401K and pay the penalties/taxes to pay off my debt and deposit the rest into an IRA? After all the fees I would have around 35K left to deposit in the IRA., Deciding what to do with your retirement accounts after you quit or leave your job. What you decide to do with your 401(k), 403(b), or other workplace retirement account after you leave your job depends on your goals and personal preferences. Make sure to understand the rules for your old account and the new account before deciding., Cash out your 401k. NOT RECOMMENDED. If you take a “lump-sum distribution,” you will have to pay income taxes on the money. You will also pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you’re under age 59 ½. Not only do you lose money, but you lose valuable time in building savings, which you might never catch up., For 401(k) account holders who lose their jobs, there is an important exception to the IRS early withdrawal penalty. If you lose your job when you are age 55 or older, you can take a 401(k) payout without incurring an early withdrawal tax penalty. This exception is often referred to as the “age 55 rule.” It helps protect those who lose , While you’re still working at the job with the 401(k), your employer decides whether you can take early withdrawals or borrow money from your account. That information should be included in the plan documents. Alternatively, you can check in with the human resources or payroll departments to find out if either option is available..