The Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation plan provides a convenient way for City employees to save money for retirement with pre-tax earnings. Deferred compensation plans tend to offer better investment options than most 401(k) plans, but are at a disadvantage regarding liquidity.Contributions to the City of San José. Deferred Compensation Plan can be taken out of your paycheck before taxes. 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 Funds are withdrawn from an employee's income without being taxed and are only taxed upon withdrawal. Yes, you can roll your employee contributions plus interest into an IRA account, 401-k or other qualified tax deferred account. In this article, we'll be covering how deferred compensation plans work, the benefits for your financial plan, and whether they're better than a 401(k). Governmental and select tax-exempt employers may want to consider a 457(b) or 457(f) plan instead of a 401(k) or 403(b) plan.