You can take the distribution in a lump sum or regular installments, paying tax when you receive the income. You can also arrange to withdraw some of it when you anticipate a need, such as paying for your kids' college tuition. While the IRS has few restrictions, your employer will probably have their own rules.

If your deferred compensation comes as a lump sum, one way to mitigate the tax impact is to "bunch" other tax deductions in the year you receive the money. "Taxpayers often have some flexibility on when they can pay certain deductible expenses, such as charitable contributions or real estate taxes," Walters says.

A deferred compensation plan withholds a portion of an employee's pay until a specified date, usually retirement. The lump-sum owed to an employee in this type of plan is paid out on that date. Examples of deferred compensation plans include pensions, retirement plans, and employee stock options.

The Plan differs from other defined contribution retirement plans (like a 401(k) or 403(b)), because it is designed and managed with public employees in mind. The New York State Deferred Compensation Board establishes and administers the Plan policies.

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The informal nature of deferred compensation plans puts the employee in the position of being one of the employer's creditors. A 401(k) plan is separately insured. By contrast, in the event of the employer going bankrupt, there is no assurance that the employee will ever receive the deferred compensation funds.

The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a 457(b) retirement plan created for New York State employees, and employees of participating agencies. Retirement may last for a long time. Your pension and Social Security benefits may be your primary retirement income source, but that might not be enough.

The New York City Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) allows eligible New York City employees a way to save for retirement through convenient payroll deductions. DCP is comprised of two programs: a 457 Plan and a 401(k) Plan, both of which offer pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options.

Whenever you decide to withdraw funds from your deferred compensation account, taking distributions will be as simple as submitting a Distribution Form. Like most City employees, you joined either or both the 457 Plan or 401(k) Plan to supplement other sources of retirement income, like pension and Social Security.