Retirement Accounts

What is a Roth 401(k)?

Unlike a Traditional 401(k), a Roth 401(k) has you putting the money in after you pay taxes. That means at retirement, you’ll enjoy tax-free distributions.

Stephanie Faris

Stephanie Faris

Published January 13th, 2021

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

A Roth 401(k) combines the features of a Traditional 401(k) with the tax setup offered by a Roth IRA.

With a Roth 401(k), you pay taxes on the funds before they’re put into the account.

Roth 401(k) participants receive tax-free distributions when they take the money out at retirement.

Traditional 401(k) accounts have their benefits--namely that they let you put money in before you’ve paid taxes on it. But there’s a price with that tax-free contribution. You pay taxes when you take the money out, which will likely be after you’ve left the workforce to enjoy retirement. Enter the Roth 401(k). Like a Traditional 401(k), you put money in to fund your retirement. But unlike a Traditional 401(k), a Roth 401(k) has you putting the money in after you pay taxes. That means at retirement, you’ll enjoy tax-free distributions.

What Is a Roth 401(k)?

When you’re looking at what is Roth 401(k), it can help to take a look at the basic setup of both types of Roth retirement accounts: the Roth IRA and the Roth 401(k). Roth products were named after William Roth, the Delaware senator who sponsored the legislation creating it. “Roth” is most often associated with the Roth IRA, which was introduced as an alternative to Traditional 401(k) accounts, which is a popular job perk available to today’s employees.

The Roth 401(k) works similarly to the Roth IRA in many ways. But unlike the Roth IRA, with a Roth 401(k), you’ll have to start taking distributions from your retirement fund at by the age of 72 to avoid penalties if you’re not still working.

Example of a Roth 401(k)

The defining factor of any Roth definition is that the money is put in after taxes are taken out. Usually, this means that your employer takes the funds from your paycheck after taxes have been withdrawn. You simply sign up and let everything happen on its own.

But also tied into the Roth meaning is the concept of a designated Roth 401(k). With this type of account, an employer can match contributions, but the “Roth” treatment goes away at that point. The employer-contributed money is kept in a separate account and given the same tax treatment a Traditional 401(k) would receive.

Here’s a simple example of how a Roth contribution works. Your paycheck is $1,000 and you’ve designated 5 percent to go toward your Roth 401(k). Your employer would calculate your taxes, then take 5% of the sum remaining to put into your Roth 401(k). When you retire and take your distributions, you won’t be responsible for paying any taxes on it since you paid taxes on that money when your employer originally put it into the account.

If you take that same example and apply it to a Traditional 401(k), your employer would first calculate 5% of your earnings, then move it to your 401(k). Taxes would be taken on the amount remaining after that 401(k) contribution had been deducted so that you’d only pay taxes on your income. However, when you take the money out at retirement, you’d be responsible for paying income taxes on it.

Roth 401(k) vs. Traditional 401(k)

What is Roth contribution compared to a Traditional 401(k)? First, it can help to look at the similarities. Both are subject to the current contribution limits. For the 2021 tax year, you can contribute up to $19,500 to your 401(k). This applies whether it’s of the Traditional or Roth variety. Whether you put your funds in pre-tax or Roth 401(k) is the biggest difference between a Roth 401(k) and a Traditional 401(k). There are benefits to either approach. With a Traditional 401(k), you’ll be able to move some of your income into a retirement savings account, where it can start earning interest. With a Roth 401(k), though, you pay taxes now so that when you retire, and your income drops, you won’t have to worry about paying them.

Who Benefits Most from Roth 401(k)s?

In addition to determining what does Roth mean, it’s important to look at whether it’s the right choice for you. For some people, a Traditional 401(k) makes more sense.

Since your 401(k) Roth contribution is taxed now, it’s usually the best option for those in lower tax brackets. If you’re a high earner paying taxes at the 35 percent tax bracket, chances are you’ll see a big drop in income when you retire. That could have you paying lower taxes on that money than you would now, at 35 percent. For that reason, a Traditional 401(k) might make more sense for you, allowing you to pay taxes then versus now.

For lower earners, a Roth 401(k) means you’ll pay taxes now, when you’re at a low tax bracket. As tax brackets increase between now and your retirement date, having the tax already taken care of will give you a big relief if, say, the lowest tier gets hit with a 20 or 30 percent income tax.

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History of the Roth 401(k)

The Roth 401(k) debuted as part of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. It was created to give employees the option of investing after-tax dollars to their employer-provided investment accounts. In 2006, employers were first able to offer Roth 401(k)s to their employees.

Final Thoughts

Whether you choose a Traditional 401(k) or Roth 401(k), a 401(k) investment account can give you the funds you’ll need after retirement. If you’ve signed up for a 401(k) through your employer, it’s important to make sure you’re investing enough to cover your post-retirement cost of living. A Certified Financial Planner® can take a look at your retirement savings and issue guidance on ways you can reduce your taxability while also saving for the future.


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Stephanie Faris
Stephanie Faris

Stephanie Faris has written about finance for entrepreneurs and marketing firms since 2013. She spent nearly a year as a writer for a credit card processing service and has written about finance for numerous marketing firms and entrepreneurs. Her work has appeared on Money Under 30, The Motley Fool, MoneyGeek, E-commerce Insiders, and GoBankingRates.

Retirement Accounts

Understanding 401(k)s


401(k) Rules


Cashing Out your 401(k)


Understanding Roth 401(k)s


Roth IRA Basics

Income and expenses charts

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Retirement Accounts

Understanding 401(k)s


401(k) Rules


Cashing Out your 401(k)


Understanding Roth 401(k)s


Roth IRA Basics


Share this advice


Stephanie Faris
Stephanie Faris

Stephanie Faris has written about finance for entrepreneurs and marketing firms since 2013. She spent nearly a year as a writer for a credit card processing service and has written about finance for numerous marketing firms and entrepreneurs. Her work has appeared on Money Under 30, The Motley Fool, MoneyGeek, E-commerce Insiders, and GoBankingRates.

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To empower a confident, worry-free retirement for everyone.

Legal

Retirable, Inc. ('Retirable') is an SEC registered investment advisor. By using this website, you accept our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Retirable provides holistic retirement planning services, which are available only to residents of the United States. You must be at least 18 years of age to become a Retirable Premium user. Nothing on this website should be considered an offer, solicitation of an offer, or advice to buy or sell securities.

Investing involves risk and past performance is not indicative of future results. Increased spending increases the risk of depleting your savings and performance is not guaranteed. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any decisions based on your own personal circumstances.

For more information, see our Form ADV Part II and other disclosures.

Retirable is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Blue Ridge Bank N.A., Member FDIC. FDIC insurance is available for funds on deposit up to $250,000 through Blue Ridge Bank N.A., Member FDIC. The Retirable Visa® Debit Card is issued by Blue Ridge Bank N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 5.12% is effective as of Aug 1, 2023. This is a variable rate and may change after the account is opened. Fees could affect earnings on the account.

** Refer to the fee schedule in your Consumer Deposit Account Agreement

© 2024 Retirable Inc. All rights reserved.

We're accredited and certified by