Know the tax consequences of borrowing from your 401(k) plan

When you borrow from your 401(k), you become both a borrower and a lender. Whether that's a good idea depends on your personal financial situation – and in the process of making the decision about lending money to yourself, you may have questions regarding the tax consequences.

For instance, though you probably know the initial borrowing has no federal income tax effect, you might be wondering whether the interest you pay will be deductible. In general, the answer is no. That's true even when you use 401(k) loan proceeds for your home.

Ordinary loan repayments are not taxable events either. That is, you don't have to pick up the interest you repay into your account as taxable income. And, though you're increasing your 401(k) account with the principal portion of each payment, that amount is not considered a contribution. You can still make pre-tax contributions up to the annual limit ($17,500 for a traditional 401(k) during 2013, plus an additional $5,500 when you're age 50 or older).

What if you default on the 401(k) loan? The balance of your loan is considered a distribution to you, and you'll have to report it as ordinary income on your federal tax return. In addition, when you're under age 59½, a 10% early-withdrawal penalty typically applies.

Being both a 401(k) borrower and a lender can lead to tax surprises. Give us a call to make sure you have the whole story before you arrange a 401(k) loan.