Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
#1
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Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
Hello,
I am moving to the US next month. Is the 20,500 401(k) max contribution limit pro-rated for the months that I will be a US resident? i.e. if I only live in the US for 2 months of the year am I only allowed to pay in 2/12 * 20500 = 3416 in total? Or can I put in the full 20.5k in a couple of months?
I am moving to the US next month. Is the 20,500 401(k) max contribution limit pro-rated for the months that I will be a US resident? i.e. if I only live in the US for 2 months of the year am I only allowed to pay in 2/12 * 20500 = 3416 in total? Or can I put in the full 20.5k in a couple of months?
#2
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Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
Hello,
I am moving to the US next month. Is the 20,500 401(k) max contribution limit pro-rated for the months that I will be a US resident? i.e. if I only live in the US for 2 months of the year am I only allowed to pay in 2/12 * 20500 = 3416 in total? Or can I put in the full 20.5k in a couple of months?
I am moving to the US next month. Is the 20,500 401(k) max contribution limit pro-rated for the months that I will be a US resident? i.e. if I only live in the US for 2 months of the year am I only allowed to pay in 2/12 * 20500 = 3416 in total? Or can I put in the full 20.5k in a couple of months?
#3
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Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
Understood, thanks so much!
#4
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Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
Note that your employer may impose their own limits. My employer when I worked in the US only allowed a maximum of 20% of gross pay to be put into a 401k, along with their 5% contribution. I used to contribute the max 20% every pay period and it would automatically stop once I hit the max limit but the employer match continued to year end.
#5
Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
Note that your employer may impose their own limits. My employer when I worked in the US only allowed a maximum of 20% of gross pay to be put into a 401k, along with their 5% contribution. I used to contribute the max 20% every pay period and it would automatically stop once I hit the max limit but the employer match continued to year end.
#6
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Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
I did hear that not all companies did this.
#7
Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
Some things can be a little odd over here, especially when it is government regulated. I had a Flexible Spending Account through an employer that enabled you to contribute $x per month tax free to pay for healthcare costs. I left the company half way through the year yet the company paid out a full years worth of contributions when I submitted my expenses. It turns out they have to pay you what you were going to contribute for the whole year even though you did not actually contribute the full amount.
#8
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Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
Some things can be a little odd over here, especially when it is government regulated. I had a Flexible Spending Account through an employer that enabled you to contribute $x per month tax free to pay for healthcare costs. I left the company half way through the year yet the company paid out a full years worth of contributions when I submitted my expenses. It turns out they have to pay you what you were going to contribute for the whole year even though you did not actually contribute the full amount.
#9
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Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
The difference with FSAs (versus HSAs) is that the employer gets to keep the excess funds after the runout period has elapsed. If someone contributes $X to the FSA but only spends $X - $Y, the difference can be kept by the employer. This helps to offset situations where employees claim more than they've repaid and then quit, leaving the employer with the need to absorb the difference.
#10
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Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
The difference with FSAs (versus HSAs) is that the employer gets to keep the excess funds after the runout period has elapsed. If someone contributes $X to the FSA but only spends $X - $Y, the difference can be kept by the employer. This helps to offset situations where employees claim more than they've repaid and then quit, leaving the employer with the need to absorb the difference.
If the OP ever gets a choice between FSA and HSA then choose HSA every time.
#11
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Re: Is 401(k) limit pro-rated for partial year
Better yet, if your employer offers a limited purpose FSA and an HSA with the same healthcare plan (like my previous employer did), take advantage of both! I can always spend an FSA of money on dental and vision in one year. I enjoy getting new glasses and my teeth can always use more work.