Owe taxes on 401(k) withdrawals?
Enter the withdrawal and your other income to see how much federal and state tax the withdrawal adds, whether the 10% early withdrawal tax applies, and what you keep.
- You keep
- $26,047.00
Taking $30,000.00 out of a 401(k) with $40,000.00 of other income costs about $3,953.00 in tax; you keep $26,047.00.
- Total tax on the withdrawal
- $3,953.00
- Federal income tax on it
- $3,953.00
- 10% additional tax
- $0.00
- State tax
- $0.00
- Share lost to tax
- 13.18%
- Top federal bracket
- 22%
- Withheld by a 401(k) plan
- $6,000.00
You keep: $26,047.00. Taking $30,000.00 out of a 401(k) with $40,000.00 of other income costs about $3,953.00 in tax; you keep $26,047.00.
The results are estimates for information only. They are not financial, tax, or legal advice. Check the numbers with your lender or a qualified professional before you decide. Terms of use
How to calculate
Estimates the 2026 federal income tax, the 10% early withdrawal tax and state tax on a traditional 401(k) or IRA withdrawal, on top of your other income, and what you keep.
Example with the default inputs (Withdrawal $30,000.00, Other taxable income $40,000.00, Filing status Single, People 65 or older on the return 0, Under 59½ with no exception No, State income tax rate 0%): Taking $30,000.00 out of a 401(k) with $40,000.00 of other income costs about $3,953.00 in tax; you keep $26,047.00.
Method: Federal tax on the withdrawal = 2026 federal tax on (other income + withdrawal) − tax on other income alone; plus 10% of the withdrawal before 59½ with no exception; plus withdrawal × state rate.
- Federal tax for tax year 2026 (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32): standard deduction, the extra standard deduction and the senior deduction for people 65 or older, and the regular brackets. All other income is treated as ordinary income.
- No itemized deductions, credits, or capital gains; the withdrawal can make more of your Social Security taxable, which is not included (use the taxable Social Security calculator and add the extra to other income).
- Pre-tax money only: Roth contributions and qualified Roth withdrawals are tax free, and after-tax contributions come out untaxed.
- State tax is one flat rate you enter; some states exempt part or all of retirement income.
- Withholding is a prepayment, not the tax: you get back or pay the difference when you file.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Withdrawal $30,000.00, Other taxable income $40,000.00, Filing status Single, People 65 or older on the return 0, Under 59½ with no exception no, State income tax rate 0% gives Federal income tax on it $3,953.00, You keep $26,047.00, Top federal bracket 22%.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 single brackets, $16,100 standard deduction); Form 1040 Tax Table method
- Withdrawal $20,000.00, Other taxable income $0.00, Filing status Married filing jointly, People 65 or older on the return 0, Under 59½ with no exception yes, State income tax rate 5% gives Federal income tax on it $0.00, 10% additional tax $2,000.00, State tax $1,000.00, You keep $17,000.00.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 ($32,200 joint standard deduction); IRC 72(t) 10% additional tax
- Withdrawal $100,000.00, Other taxable income $150,000.00, Filing status Married filing jointly, People 65 or older on the return 2, Under 59½ with no exception no, State income tax rate 4% gives Federal income tax on it $24,702.00, 10% additional tax $0.00, State tax $4,000.00, You keep $71,298.00.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (joint brackets, additional standard deduction $1,650 each over 65) and Schedule 1-A senior deduction phase-out
How it works
Federal income tax on the withdrawal = federal tax on (other income + withdrawal) − federal tax on other income alone, both for tax year 2026. Each tax is figured as Form 1040 does:
- Adjusted gross income = the income (all treated as ordinary income).
- Standard deduction: $16,100 single or separate, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household, plus $2,050 (single, head of household) or $1,650 (married) for each person 65 or older. Only a joint return counts two people (IRC 63(f)); 2 on any other return gives no answer.
- Senior deduction (Schedule 1-A, 2025 to 2028): $6,000 for each person 65 or older, less 6% of the income over $75,000 ($150,000 joint), not below 0; none for married filing separately.
- Taxable income = income − both deductions, not below 0.
- Tax: below $100,000 of taxable income, the Form 1040 Tax Table method: the rate schedule applied to the middle of the table row, rounded to the whole dollar (half a dollar up). Rows are $0 to $5 (middle $2.50), $5 to $15 ($10), $15 to $25 ($20), then $25 wide to $3,000 and $50 wide from $3,000 (middle = row start + half the width). From $100,000, the rate schedule on the exact amount, not rounded. Taxable income of 0 has no tax.
2026 rates (taxable income over):
| Rate | Single | Joint | Head of household | Separate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12% | 12,400 | 24,800 | 17,700 | 12,400 |
| 22% | 50,400 | 100,800 | 67,450 | 50,400 |
| 24% | 105,700 | 211,400 | 105,700 | 105,700 |
| 32% | 201,775 | 403,550 | 201,750 | 201,775 |
| 35% | 256,225 | 512,450 | 256,200 | 256,225 |
| 37% | 640,600 | 768,700 | 640,600 | 384,350 |
10% additional tax = 10% of the withdrawal when you are under 59½ and no exception applies; otherwise 0.
State tax = withdrawal × the state rate you enter.
Total tax = federal + 10% additional tax + state. You keep = withdrawal − total tax. Share lost to tax = total tax ÷ withdrawal. Top federal bracket is the rate on the next dollar with the withdrawal (0 when deductions still cover it). Withheld by a 401(k) plan = 20% of the withdrawal.
Assumptions
- No itemized deductions, credits, capital gains or self-employment income; the extra Social Security that becomes taxable is not added.
- Tax year 2026 rates for the whole year.
Worked examples by hand
Single, $40,000 other income, $30,000 withdrawal. Without: taxable $40,000 − $16,100 = $23,900; Tax Table row $23,900 to $23,950, middle $23,925: $1,240 + 12% × $11,525 = $2,623. With: taxable $53,900; middle $53,925: $1,240 + $4,560 + 22% × $3,525 = $6,575.50, $6,576. Federal tax on the withdrawal = $3,953; you keep $26,047. Top bracket 22%.
Joint, no other income, $20,000 at age 50, 5% state. $20,000 is below the $32,200 standard deduction: federal tax $0. 10% additional tax $2,000; state tax $1,000; you keep $17,000.
Joint, both 65, $150,000 other income, $100,000 withdrawal, 4% state. Without: deductions $32,200 + 2 × $1,650 = $35,500 and senior 2 × $6,000 = $12,000; taxable $102,500; tax = $2,480 + $9,120 + 22% × $1,700 = $11,974. With: income $250,000, senior deduction 6,000 − 6% × 100,000 = 0; taxable $214,500; tax = $11,600 + $24,332 + 24% × $3,100 = $36,676. Federal tax on the withdrawal = $24,702; state $4,000; you keep $71,298.
Other questions people ask
How are 401(k) withdrawals taxed?
Withdrawals of pre-tax money are ordinary income in the year you take them. They are added to your other income and taxed at your federal brackets (10% to 37%), and usually by your state. The tax on a withdrawal is the difference between your tax with it and without it.
What is the 10% early withdrawal penalty?
Taking money out before age 59½ usually adds a 10% additional tax on top of income tax (IRC section 72(t)). Exceptions include leaving your job in or after the year you turn 55 (for that employer’s plan), disability, a series of substantially equal payments, and some medical, birth or adoption, and emergency expenses.
How much does a 401(k) plan withhold?
A plan must withhold 20% for federal income tax from a distribution paid to you that could be rolled over. IRAs withhold 10% unless you choose another rate on Form W-4R. Withholding is a prepayment: the tax actually due can be more or less.
Why is the tax on my withdrawal more than my bracket suggests?
A large withdrawal can push part of your income into higher brackets, and above $75,000 ($150,000 joint) it shrinks the new senior deduction for people 65 or older. It can also make more of your Social Security benefits taxable.
Are Roth 401(k) withdrawals taxed?
Qualified Roth withdrawals (after 59½ and 5 years) are tax free. This calculator is for pre-tax (traditional) money.