Get Employee Plans News, Spring 2010. Employee Plans News, Spring 2010

There's no required timeframe for rolling over your 401(k). If your balance is less than $5,000, your previous plan may be required to rollover your account. Note that if you do decide to do an indirect rollover, you'll have 60 days to deposit the check into your new 401(k) or IRA.

When should I roll over? You have 60 days from the date you receive an IRA or retirement plan distribution to roll it over to another plan or IRA. The IRS may waive the 60-day rollover requirement in certain situations if you missed the deadline because of circumstances beyond your control.

If you don't roll over your payment, it will be taxable (other than qualified Roth distributions and any amounts already taxed) and you may also be subject to additional tax unless you're eligible for one of the exceptions to the 10% additional tax on early distributions.

There is paperwork that you need to complete, and they will guide you through what needs to happen and when. You have 60 days to re-deposit your funds into a new retirement account after it's been released from your old plan. If this does not occur, you can be hit with tax liabilities and penalties.

Employer-sponsored retirement plans are a way to save for retirement and come with many benefits. The plans reduce your taxable income, investments grow tax-deferred, and you can get "free money" through employer matching contributions.

The 60-day rollover rule requires that you deposit all the funds from a retirement account into another IRA, 401(k), or another qualified retirement account within 60 days. If you don't follow the 60-day rule, the funds withdrawn will be subject to taxes and an early withdrawal penalty if you are younger than 59½.

An employer-sponsored plan is a type of benefit plan offered to employees at no or relatively low cost. These plans, such as a 401(k) or HSA, cover an array of services including retirement savings and healthcare. Employees who enroll in such programs capitalize on the benefit of receiving discounted services.

A qualified retirement plan is a retirement plan that is only offered by an employer and qualifies for tax breaks. By its definition, an IRA is not a qualified retirement plan as it is not offered by employers, unlike 401(k)s, which are, making them qualified retirement plans.