Traditional 401(k) vs Roth 401(k): Which one is right for you?

Two options—and a whole lot to consider.

A record number of Americans are participating in employer-sponsored 401(k) plans today. Of the options available, two stand out as clear favorites: plans that offer only the traditional pre-tax account and those that add the optional Roth after-tax account. Both offer unique advantages and tax considerations, but neither is clearly better.

That said, while nearly three-quarters of corporate 401(k) plans offer Roth accounts, under 8 percent of employees actually opt for them. Why? It turns out that they just might be unsure of the differences between the two account types. Below, we’ve spelled out the key differences and considerations employees need to keep top of mind.

Traditional 401(k) plans

Traditional 401(k) retirement plans allow individuals to set aside a share of their paycheck on a pre-tax basis. This means that the IRS can only tax these funds when the individual receives a distribution from the plan. The federal and state taxes, if any, incurred are based on the retiree’s tax bracket in the year they receive their distribution.

In other words, if you expect that you will be in a lower tax bracket by the time you retire, a traditional 401(k) plan might be for you.

Need to dip into those funds early? With traditional 401(k) plans, you’ll face an additional 10% tax penalty if you withdraw money before turning 59½ years old. Yes, the age requirement is that specific.

Guideline Tip: Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), both traditional and Roth 401(k) plans are subject to non-discrimination testing.

Roth 401(k) Plans

Conversely, Roth 401(k) accounts allow employees to contribute on an after-tax basis. While you won’t be taxed on qualified withdrawals in the future, it does mean means your contributions will take a more substantial bite out of your paycheck today.

Call it a case of having more money now versus more money later. When it finally comes time for retirement, you’ll have full access to your hard-earned money, tax free. If you’ve put aside a nest egg of $1 million entirely in your Roth account, you’ll be able to keep every penny — including all of the investment earnings — when you receive a distribution, minus any administration fees. Traditional 401(k) accounts can’t boast that same benefit.

And the Roth 401(k) benefits don’t stop there. Unlike the contributions you make to a traditional pre-tax 401(k) account, withdrawal rules here are a little more lenient. In order to receive a fully tax-free benefit, you should only withdraw from your Roth account when it is 5 years after your first contribution and you have turned 59½ (or if you die or become disabled.) Otherwise, you will pay taxes on your earnings, as well as a 10% penalty if you are under age 59½.

Younger employees tend to prefer Roth 401(k) contributions over traditional, since they tend to be in a lower tax bracket and have a lot of time for their earnings to compound. More time for your account to grow usually means more money coming out tax free in retirement.

Roth contributions shouldn’t be confused with voluntary after-tax 401(k) contributions, which are contributions past the annual employee deferral limit that are not tax deductible. As mentioned earlier, retirees withdrawing funds from a Roth account won’t need to pay any additional taxes. On the flip side, withdrawals from voluntary after-tax accounts require account holders to pay a tax on any gains made.

Two accounts, same limit

Both traditional and Roth 401(k) account holders are subject to the same annual contribution limits. For 2020, employees can contribute up to $19,500 to their 401(k) accounts. This is a combined limit, which is important to note in case you contribute to both traditional and Roth accounts. Keep in mind that this limit is subject to an annual update from the IRS.

It should be noted that employees age 50 or older can contribute a little more—in 2019, $6,500 more, up to a total of $26,000 annually. This age-based exception is referred to as a “catch up” contribution, because it allows individuals nearing retirement age to help close any potential savings gaps. That’s important to remember given that older generations tend to be less confident about the state of their retirement accounts.

Employer matching

It’s increasingly common for employers to “match” employee 401(k) contributions. Today, nearly half of businesses with retirement plans contribute at least 50 cents for every dollar deferred by employees, generally up to 6 percent of the employee's pay. Per some industry studies, a more generous “dollar for dollar” approach is on course to becoming just as popular.

If an employer offers to match contributions made to a 401(k) plan, it matches on both traditional and Roth account contributions. So does matching work any differently based on the kind of account?

Employer matching contributions are always contributed on a pre-tax basis to a separate account under the plan, regardless of whether you’re making your contributions to a traditional pre-tax account or a Roth account. Generally, amounts distributed to you from the separate employer contributions account are taxed as ordinary income in the year you receive them, similar to how distributions from a traditional 401(k) are taxed.

While both traditional and Roth 401(k) accounts have their potential advantages, there’s no one-size-fits-all financial solution to retirement. Each type has a different impact on employees’ retirement savings, whether it’s on payday or when it comes time to finally retire.

Whether it’s a traditional or Roth account, Guideline empowers your employees to navigate their options and enroll in the 401(k) they deserve. To learn how our technology makes it easy to manage your retirement plan, compliance, administration, and more, schedule a demo with one of our 401(k) specialists.