Get Deferred Compensation Plan Redemption Form - Homestead Funds

The Bottom Line. If you have a qualified plan and have passed the vesting period, your deferred compensation is yours, even if you quit with no notice on very bad terms. If you have a non-qualified plan, you may have to forfeit all of your deferred compensation by quitting depending on your plan's specific terms.

How deferred compensation is taxed. Generally speaking, the tax treatment of deferred compensation is simple: Employees pay taxes on the money when they receive it, not necessarily when they earn it.

Is deferred compensation considered earned income? Deferred compensation is not considered earned, taxable income until you receive the deferred payment in a future tax year. For example, the use of Roth 401(k)s as deferred compensation is an exception, requiring you to pay taxes on income when it is earned.

Deferred compensation plans don't have required minimum distributions, either. Based upon your plan options, generally, you may choose 1 of 2 ways to receive your deferred compensation: as a lump-sum payment or in installments.

Deferred compensation is not considered taxable income for employees until they receive the deferred payment in a future tax year.

Yes, you can have both a deferred compensation plan and a 401(k) plan.

2 The payment of the deferred compensation will be reported on Form W-2 even if you are no longer an employee at the time. You are also taxed on the earnings you get on your deferrals when they are paid to you. The rate of return is fixed by the terms of the plan.

If you leave your company or retire early, funds in a Section 409A deferred compensation plan aren't portable. They can't be transferred or rolled over into an IRA or new employer plan. Unlike many other employer retirement plans, you can't take a loan against a Section 409A deferred compensation plan.