A 401(k) is a feature of a qualified profit-sharing plan that allows employees to contribute a portion of their wages to individual accounts. Some of the key features of 401k plans are:
• Elective salary deferrals are excluded from the employee’s taxable income (except for designated Roth deferrals).
• Employers can contribute to employees’ accounts.
• Distributions—including earnings—are includible in taxable income at retirement (except for qualified distributions of designated Roth accounts).
In Arkansas, as in all states, a 401(k) plan is governed by federal law, specifically the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code. Employees in Arkansas can elect to defer a portion of their salary into their 401(k) plan, which is then excluded from their taxable income for the year, except for contributions to a Roth 401(k), which are taxed upfront but may be withdrawn tax-free in retirement. Employers have the option to make contributions to their employees' 401(k) accounts, which can be matched up to a certain percentage. Upon retirement, distributions from a traditional 401(k) are taxed as ordinary income, while qualified distributions from a Roth 401(k) are generally tax-free. It's important to note that while the federal government sets the primary regulations for 401(k) plans, Arkansas state tax laws align with federal tax treatment for these retirement savings accounts.