If you're taking out funds from your retirement account prior to age 59½ and exceptions apply, use IRS Form 5329 to report the amount of 10% additional tax you owe on an early distribution or to claim an exception to the 10% additional tax.
Basically, any amount you withdraw from your 401(k) account has taxes withheld at 20%, and if you're under age 59½, you'll be taxed an additional 10% when you file your return. Any amount you withdraw from your 457 account has taxes withheld at 20%.
Take an early withdrawal You'll need to speak with someone at your company's human resources department to see if this option is available and how the process works. Generally, you'll need to complete some paperwork, and describe why you need early access to your retirement funds.
Deferring Social Security payments, rolling over old 401(k)s, setting up IRAs to avoid the mandatory 20% federal income tax, and keeping your capital gains taxes low are among the best strategies for reducing taxes on your 401(k) withdrawal.
To report the tax on early distributions, you may have to file Form 5329, Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including IRAs) and Other Tax-Favored Accounts PDF. See the Form 5329 instructions PDF for additional information about this tax.
401(k) Tax Basics There's no way to take a distribution from a 401(k) without owing income taxes at the rate you're paying the year you take the distribution. Except in special cases, you can't take a distribution from your 401(k) at all until you've reached age 59.5.
Generally speaking, you can't withdraw from a workplace retirement plan until one of the following happens: You leave your job due to death or become disabled. The plan is terminated and isn't replaced by a new one. You reach age 59 ½ You experience a financial hardship.