A 457(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan. Funds are withdrawn from an employee's income without being taxed and are only taxed upon withdrawal.A participant in a section 457 plan may not withdraw the deferred amounts at any time prior to the occurrence of a payout event set out in section 457(d)(1)(A). Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about the State of Illinois Deferred Compensation Plan ("Plan"). Learn how withdrawals from 457 deferred-compensation plans are taxable but not subject to the same rules and restrictions as 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Retirement withdrawals from pre-tax contributions and earnings are subject to federal income tax.