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401k withdrawal calculator

Enter how much you'll take out of a traditional 401(k), or how much cash you need. You'll see the federal and state tax, any 10% early-withdrawal penalty, what's withheld, and what you keep.

By the Calcist team · Checked against known answers · Updated October 28, 2026

Private: calculated on your device. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Estimates for planning, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures use US rules unless the page says otherwise.

Next: Planning withdrawals over many years? See how long your money will last, or work out a required distribution with the RMD calculator.

How a 401(k) withdrawal is taxed

Money from a traditional (pre-tax) 401(k) is taxed as ordinary income in the year you take it out. Three things come off:

Net cash = withdrawal − federal income tax − state income tax − 10% penalty (if under 59½)
Federal tax on the withdrawal = tax on (other income + withdrawal − deductions) − tax on (other income − deductions)
  • Federal income tax. The withdrawal is stacked on top of your other income, so it's taxed at your highest brackets. The calculator uses the 2026 federal brackets and standard deductions, the same figures as our income tax calculator.
  • State income tax. Enter your state's rate as a flat percent. Some states don't tax income, and some treat retirement income differently.
  • The 10% additional tax. If you're under 59½, the IRS adds 10% of the taxable amount unless an exception applies. You report it on Form 5329.

Exceptions to the 10% penalty

For 401(k) plans, the IRS lists these exceptions, among others:

  • Age 55 separation from service: you leave your job during or after the year you turn 55 (age 50 for public safety employees of a state or local government). It covers that employer's plan only.
  • Total and permanent disability, death, or terminal illness.
  • Substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP).
  • Unreimbursed medical expenses above 7.5% of your AGI.
  • A qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) in a divorce.
  • Up to $5,000 per child for a birth or adoption, one emergency personal expense of up to $1,000 a year, and up to $22,000 for a federally declared disaster.

First-time home purchases and education are exceptions for IRAs, not 401(k) plans.

The 20% withholding

If a distribution that could be rolled over is paid to you, the plan must withhold 20% for federal income tax, even if you plan to roll it over later. A direct rollover to an IRA or another plan has no withholding. Hardship withdrawals can't be rolled over; for those and other one-time payments the default withholding is 10%, and you can choose none. Withholding is only a prepayment: the real tax and penalty are settled on your return, so you may get some back or owe more.

Worked example

You're 40, single, with no other income, and withdraw $50,000. Taxable income is $50,000 − $16,100 = $33,900, and the tax on it is $3,820. The penalty is $5,000. You keep $41,180. The plan withholds 20% ($10,000), so your check is $40,000, and about $1,180 comes back when you file.

Limitations

  • Roth 401(k) money follows different rules; qualified Roth distributions aren't taxed.
  • Credits, the extra deduction for people 65 and older, and the senior deduction aren't included. Enter your own deductions if you know them.
  • Your plan decides whether you can withdraw while still employed.

Sources

How we checked this

Before every update, this calculator is run in a real browser with these known answers, and it must match all of them:

  • $50,000 at age 40, single, no other income: $3,820 federal tax ✓
  • Same: $5,000 penalty, you keep $41,180 ✓
  • Same: 20% withheld, so the check is $40,000 and $1,180 comes back at tax time ✓
  • $30,000 at 56 after leaving the job at 55+, $80,000 other income, 5% state: no penalty, keep $21,900 ✓
  • Need $20,000 in hand, married, $60,000 other income, age 45, 4% state: withdraw $27,027.03 ✓
  • $10,000 with no other income: no federal tax (under the standard deduction), only the $1,000 penalty ✓

Last checked October 26, 2026. Spotted something wrong? The math is done in your browser with the formula shown on this page, so you can check any result by hand.

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Questions people ask

How much tax do I pay on a 401(k) withdrawal?

It's taxed as ordinary income at your federal brackets, plus state tax, plus 10% if you're under 59½ without an exception. A $50,000 withdrawal with no other income costs a single filer $3,820 in 2026 federal tax.

What is the penalty for early 401(k) withdrawal?

A 10% additional tax on the taxable amount if you're under 59½, on top of regular income tax, unless an IRS exception applies.

What is the rule of 55?

If you leave your job during or after the year you turn 55, withdrawals from that employer's 401(k) aren't subject to the 10% penalty. Public safety employees can use age 50.

Why was 20% withheld from my 401(k) withdrawal?

Federal law requires 20% withholding when an eligible rollover distribution is paid to you instead of rolled over directly. It counts toward your tax for the year.

How much do I need to withdraw to get $20,000?

Choose "I need an amount in hand". For example, married with $60,000 of other income, age 45 and a 4% state tax, you'd need to withdraw about $27,027.

Related calculators

401(k) calculatorBalance at retirement with employer match and 2026 limits.Income tax calculator2026 federal income tax, brackets, marginal and effective rate.RMD calculatorRequired minimum distribution from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.How long will my money last?See how many years your savings last with regular withdrawals.