In-Service Withdrawal

An in-service withdrawal (ISW) is a distribution of money from a retirement plan while you are still working for the employer that sponsors the plan. ISWs are subject to income taxes and, in some cases, early withdrawal penalties.

There are a few different types of ISWs. The most common type is a qualified ISW (QIS). A QIS is a withdrawal from a 401(k) plan that meets certain requirements. These requirements include:

• The withdrawal must be made after you have reached age 59 1/2.
• The withdrawal must be made after you have been employed by the employer for at least five years.
• The withdrawal must be made in substantially equal payments over a period of at least five years.

If you meet these requirements, you will not have to pay an early withdrawal penalty on your QIS. However, you will still have to pay income taxes on the withdrawal.

There are also a few other types of ISWs that are not subject to the early withdrawal penalty. These include:

• Withdrawals to pay for qualified education expenses.
• Withdrawals to pay for medical expenses that are not covered by insurance.
• Withdrawals to purchase a first home.

If you take an ISW that is not a QIS, you will have to pay an early withdrawal penalty of 10% in addition to income taxes on the withdrawal.

Before you take an ISW, you should carefully consider all of your options. There may be other ways to access your retirement savings without having to pay taxes and penalties. For example, you may be able to borrow from your 401(k) plan or take a hardship withdrawal.

If you decide to take an ISW, you should make sure that you understand the tax implications. You should also make sure that you are taking the withdrawal for a good reason. If you take an ISW just because you want to access your money, you may end up paying more in taxes and penalties than you would have if you had left your money in your retirement plan.