Access Late Husband's 401(k) Balance

First, please let me offer my condolences on the untimely loss of your husband. Generally speaking, when a 401(k) account holder passes away, the plan will pay out the balance of the account in a lump sum to the decedent’s beneficiary (you, in this case). The distributed funds would be taxable, but you would not be required to pay the 10% early withdrawal penalty. Usually, the plan administrator will withhold part of the 401(k) balance to pay taxes, so while the amount of the distribution will be less than the full balance of the 401(k), you should not be required to pay any additional taxes out-of-pocket.

As the surviving spouse of a deceased 401(k) plan member, you also have the option to roll over the balance of your husband’s 401(k) into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), which would allow you to defer the payment of taxes on the funds, though it would also greatly limit your access to the money. Your husband’s plan may also allow you to elect to have the funds paid out over a set period of time, in some cases up to your projected life expectancy, allowing you to stretch out the payment of your tax obligations. However, if you need the funds to pay for your current day-to-day living expenses, these two options may not be the most practical choices. To read more about the inheritance of 401(k) accounts, you can visit Research 401(k).

I wish you the best of luck for the future, and hope that the information I have provided helps you Find. Learn. Save.

Best,

Bill

www.bills.com