401K Definition

Learn more about what a 401K is in business.

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If you’re a business owner, we know you’re grateful for good employees. Offering them competitive pay and quality benefits can help you retain the best employees. A retirement plan is an important benefit to many workers and a great way to show your employees that you care. A popular plan among employers is the 401k.

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The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) doesn’t require you to give retirement plans to your employees, but you have to follow certain rules if you do. The rules you have to follow depend on the kind of retirement plan you choose. Let’s take a look at the 401k definition and talk about some of this plan’s rules and features.

What is a 401k?

First off, 401k stands for retirement plans qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. In many 401k’s, an employer contributes part of a participating employee’s wages to a retirement account for the employee before withholding taxes from their paycheck. These accounts serve as “savings accounts” with specific perks for your employees’ futures.

We know you like choices as an entrepreneur, and you have many choices for the structure of your 401k plan. The plan you offer can be a:

Profit-sharing plan
Stock bonus plan
Pre-ERISA money purchase pension
Rural cooperative plan

Depending on how you choose to handle the funds in a 401k, your employees’ accounts might earn significant interest or returns on investments. Your employees might not only save money for a rainy day but also see their money grow beyond the amount of their contributions.

Is every 401k the same?

Not every 401k is the same. The 401k definition and rules change depending on the kind of 401k you choose for your business. The three kinds of pre-tax 401k plans that employers provide are:

Traditional 401k plans. Employers deduct employees’ contributions from their paychecks, and employers must comply with certain nondiscrimination rules.
Safe harbor 401k plans. Employees make contributions from their wages, employers must give certain notices, and employers must make contributions that vest fully and immediately.
SIMPLE 401k plans. Employees make contributions from their wages and can’t receive benefit accruals under other employer plans. To participate, employers must have 100 or fewer employees earning $5,000 or more per year, and employers must make fully-vested contributions.

Employers can also sponsor a post-tax Roth 401k for their employees.

If you’re wondering whether it’s time to offer retirement benefits to your staff, speak to a financial professional about your capabilities and options.

401k Advantages

Having a 401k retirement plan can be a win-win decision for your business. 401k benefits can help keep your workforce happy and attract more good employees. Also, your business gets the added perks of federal income tax deductions and certain tax deferrals when you sponsor a 401k for your employees.

401k Disadvantages

There are many upsides to offering a 401k retirement, but it’s still a lot of extra work and cost. When your business sponsors a 401k, it might have to follow several rules about contribution amounts, providing notice to employees, and making vested contributions.

A 401k can help you take good care of your employees and receive tax advantages

With a 401k retirement plan, you can help your employees save some of their hard-earned cash for a better future. Not only can a 401k help you keep a happy workforce, it can also give you considerable tax benefits. While it’s extra money and work to provide a 401k, the boost it can provide to your business is often worth it.

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Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

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