Knowing how to take money out of a Fidelity 401(k) starts with understanding the rules of the specific employer-sponsored plan. Fidelity may administer the account, but the employer's 401(k) plan determines which withdrawal, loan, hardship, and distribution options are available. The available choices can also depend on whether the employee is still working for the employer, has left the job, has reached retirement age, or qualifies for a specific exception.
A Fidelity 401(k) withdrawal can provide access to retirement savings when the plan permits it, but taking money out can have tax consequences. A taxable distribution received before age 59½ will generally be subject to ordinary income tax and may also be subject to an additional 10% tax unless an exception applies.
How to Withdraw Money From Fidelity 401(k)
To withdraw money from Fidelity 401(k), first determine whether the account is an active workplace 401(k), a former employer's plan, or another retirement account. The withdrawal choices can be different for each situation.
Generally, the process involves:
- Sign in to your Fidelity account.
- Open the workplace retirement or 401(k) account.
- Review the available distribution, withdrawal, or loan options.
- Check the plan's rules and eligibility requirements.
- Select the appropriate withdrawal or distribution option if available.
- Enter the requested amount and payment information.
- Review applicable taxes, withholding, fees, and penalties.
- Submit the request and retain the confirmation for your records.
Not every 401(k) provides the same choices. IRS guidance explains that a retirement plan's documents should specify when distributions, hardship withdrawals, early withdrawals, or loans are permitted.
Withdraw 401(k) Fidelity While Still Working
If you are still employed by the company sponsoring the plan, you may have fewer options than someone who has already left the employer. Some plans allow certain in-service distributions, hardship withdrawals, or Fidelity 401(k) loans, while others restrict access until a qualifying event occurs.
Before requesting a distribution, review the plan's terms and conditions. The plan may specify a minimum age, eligible contribution sources, financial-hardship requirements, or other restrictions.
A 401(k) loan is different from a withdrawal. With a loan, the participant generally receives money temporarily and repays it to the retirement account according to the plan's repayment requirements. A plan is not required to offer loans, so availability depends on the employer's plan.
Fidelity 401(k) Loans and Withdrawals: What's the Difference?
A Fidelity 401(k) withdrawal permanently removes money from the retirement account unless the transaction is structured as a rollover or another type of transaction that preserves the retirement funds.
A 401(k) loan, when permitted, is different because the participant borrows against the account and makes repayments under the plan's rules. If the loan satisfies the applicable requirements and is repaid according to the schedule, it generally is not treated as a taxable distribution at the time of the loan.
However, leaving an employer while a 401(k) loan is outstanding can create additional complications. Fidelity notes that an unpaid loan balance may become a distribution, potentially creating taxes and an additional 10% tax for someone under 59½.
How to Cash Out Fidelity 401(k)
A Fidelity 401(k) cash out means taking retirement funds as a distribution rather than keeping them invested in a retirement account or rolling them into another eligible retirement account.
Cash-out requests should be considered carefully because the taxable portion of a traditional 401(k) distribution is generally included in income. If the distribution occurs before age 59½, an additional 10% tax may also apply unless an exception is available.
For example, taking a $20,000 taxable distribution does not necessarily mean the entire $20,000 will reach your bank account. Federal and potentially state taxes can affect the amount received, and an early-distribution tax may apply.
For many people, leaving the money in a retirement plan or completing a direct rollover to another eligible retirement account can preserve the tax-deferred status of the funds.
How to Withdraw Money From Fidelity 401(k) After Leaving a Job
After leaving an employer, participants generally have more choices concerning an old 401(k). Fidelity identifies four common options: keeping the money in the former employer's plan when permitted, rolling it into an IRA, moving it into a new employer's plan when allowed, or cashing it out.
If you choose a cash distribution, consider the tax consequences before submitting the request. If you choose a rollover, the money can generally remain in a retirement account without being immediately taxed when the rollover is completed correctly.
A direct rollover can be particularly useful when the goal is to preserve retirement savings rather than spend the money immediately.
How to Withdraw Money From Fidelity 401(k) Before Retirement
Taking money from a Fidelity 401(k) before retirement may be possible, but eligibility depends on the plan and the circumstances.
Common situations that may provide access include:
- Leaving the employer under qualifying circumstances
- Reaching an applicable retirement age
- A permitted hardship
- An eligible 401(k) loan
- Certain disability circumstances
- Other exceptions provided by federal tax law
The IRS generally applies a 10% additional tax to taxable retirement-plan distributions made before age 59½ unless an exception applies.
Therefore, an early withdrawal should not be viewed simply as a way to access cash. The transaction can affect both current taxes and long-term retirement savings.
Fidelity 401(k) Early Withdrawal
A Fidelity 401(k) early withdrawal generally refers to a taxable distribution taken before age 59½. The 10% additional tax is separate from ordinary income tax and applies to the taxable portion of a qualifying early distribution unless an exception applies.
There are several exceptions under federal law. One important exception applies when an employee separates from service during or after the calendar year in which they reach age 55. This is commonly called the Rule of 55.
The Rule of 55 has specific requirements. It does not mean that every person who is 55 or older can withdraw from every 401(k) without the additional tax. The circumstances surrounding separation from employment and the particular retirement plan matter.
How to Withdraw From Fidelity 401(k) Without Penalty
People frequently search for how to withdraw money from Fidelity 401(k) without penalty. The key point is that avoiding the 10% additional tax generally requires either waiting until the applicable age or qualifying for an exception.
Possible exceptions can include certain distributions:
- Made after reaching age 59½
- Made after qualifying separation from service at age 55 or later
- Made because of qualifying disability
- Made to a beneficiary after the participant's death
- Made under certain substantially equal periodic payment arrangements
- Made pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order
- Made for certain qualifying circumstances recognized by federal tax law
The IRS lists multiple exceptions, and each has its own requirements.
Avoiding the 10% additional tax does not necessarily mean that the distribution is completely tax-free. A taxable traditional 401(k) distribution can still be subject to ordinary income tax.
Fidelity 401(k) Hardship Withdrawal
A Fidelity 401(k) hardship withdrawal may be available when the employer's plan permits hardship distributions and the participant has an eligible immediate and heavy financial need.
Examples of expenses that can qualify under applicable hardship rules include certain medical expenses, educational expenses, funeral expenses, costs associated with preventing eviction or foreclosure, and certain expenses related to repairing a primary residence.
A hardship distribution is not a loan. The money does not normally return to the 401(k) through repayment. The IRS states that hardship distributions generally cannot be repaid to the plan or rolled over to another plan or IRA.
Hardship distributions may also be subject to ordinary income tax and the additional 10% early-distribution tax when applicable.
Fidelity 401(k) Withdrawal Terms and Conditions
The Fidelity 401(k) withdrawal terms and conditions depend heavily on the employer's plan document. Important details to review include:
- Whether withdrawals are available while employed
- Whether the plan permits hardship withdrawals
- Whether 401(k) loans are available
- Minimum withdrawal amounts
- Eligible sources of money
- Distribution methods
- Tax withholding
- Rollover options
- Rules after leaving employment
- Restrictions associated with outstanding loans
Fidelity's role as the plan administrator or service provider does not mean every Fidelity-administered 401(k) has identical withdrawal rules. The employer's plan determines the options available to participants.
Fidelity Investments 401(k) Withdrawal Online
A participant may be able to initiate an eligible Fidelity Investments 401(k) withdrawal online through the Fidelity workplace retirement account. The exact screens and available options can vary according to the plan.
Before submitting an online request, verify the distribution type, amount, tax withholding, delivery method, and whether the transaction is eligible for rollover. If an online withdrawal option does not appear, that may indicate that the plan does not permit that transaction online or that additional eligibility requirements must be satisfied.
Fidelity 401(k) Withdrawal Phone Number and Support
For questions about a specific workplace plan, participants should use the contact information displayed inside their Fidelity workplace retirement account or on their plan documentation. This helps ensure that the participant reaches the appropriate retirement-plan support team rather than relying on an outdated third-party phone number.
When contacting support about a Fidelity 401(k) withdrawal, have the plan information available and ask specifically about withdrawal eligibility, hardship rules, loans, tax withholding, rollover options, and distribution processing times.
What Happens to Taxes When You Withdraw From a Fidelity 401(k)?
Taxes depend on the type of account, the source of the funds, the distribution amount, and the participant's circumstances.
For a traditional 401(k), taxable amounts distributed to the participant are generally included in taxable income. A distribution before age 59½ may also be subject to the additional 10% tax unless an exception applies.
A direct rollover works differently. When an eligible distribution is transferred directly to another qualifying retirement plan or IRA, the money can generally continue to receive tax-deferred treatment. The IRS explains that direct rollovers generally avoid the mandatory 20% withholding that can apply when an eligible distribution is paid directly to the participant.
Should You Cash Out or Roll Over a Fidelity 401(k)?
The right choice depends on your financial situation and retirement goals.
Cashing out can provide immediate access to money, but it can create taxes and potentially an additional early-distribution tax while also reducing retirement savings.
Keeping the 401(k) may allow the funds to remain invested under the former employer's plan, if the plan permits this.
Rolling the account into an IRA can provide another retirement-account structure and may offer different investment choices.
Moving the money to a new employer's 401(k) can consolidate retirement savings if the new employer's plan accepts rollovers.
Fidelity identifies these as common options after leaving an employer and recommends considering factors such as fees, investment choices, account balance, and tax implications.
Final Considerations
Before completing a Fidelity 401(k) withdrawal, review the plan rules and determine whether you actually need a taxable distribution. Compare a withdrawal with a loan, hardship distribution, direct rollover, or leaving the funds in the existing plan.
If you are under 59½, specifically determine whether the 10% additional tax applies or whether you qualify for an exception. If you recently left your job and are 55 or older, investigate whether the separation-from-service exception applies to your situation.
Most importantly, do not assume that the same withdrawal rules apply to every Fidelity 401(k). The specific employer plan controls many of the available options. Reviewing the plan documents and confirming the transaction details before submitting a request can help prevent unexpected taxes, penalties, or loss of retirement benefits.