Are Your 401k Losses Tax Deductible?

• A 401(k) plan is an employer plan that allows employees to save pre-tax income for retirement.
• Investment returns is affected by both market and non-market factors, such as inflation and taxes.
• Market factors include the risk tolerance and investment time horizon of investors, market conditions, and economic conditions.

After contributing to your retirement account, you expect your 401k to grow, but there are times when it doesn't work out the way you plan. You may lose part or all of your investment due to market fluctuations, but sometimes there are other factors that affect your investment's performance.

What Is the Tax Code Section Regarding 401(k) Losses?

Section 891 supplies the general rule regarding 401(k) losses. Losses that exceed $3,000 are not deductible. Losses are deductible only to the extent of $3,000. If you suffer losses on 401(k) investments in a year in which your total income does not exceed $63,000, the losses are deductible regardless of how many separate accounts you have.

Are 401k Losses Tax Deductible?

If you are self-employed and make contributions to your 401k, you are considered self-employed and therefore not eligible to deduct your 401k losses. However, if you are an employee whose employer makes contributions to your 401k, you may be eligible for deductions.

Qualified Distributions

When you make a qualified distribution from your 401k account, only the amount that is distributed to you from your account is tax deductible. This amount is calculated by subtracting the amount that was on all pre-tax contributions, plus any after-tax contributions, from the total account value.

Self-Directed IRAs

In a self-directed IRA, you have the flexibility to purchase any asset.
Unlike a 401k, there are no IRS rules about what you can and cannot invest in, though there are some limitations based on the type of IRA (individual, joint, or trust).
With an IRA, you can invest in real estate, precious metals, stocks, bonds, and virtually any other asset.
Your IRA is separate from your employer's retirement plan, such as the 401k.
With an Individual Retirement Account, your annual contribution limit is $6,000. If you are 50 or older, you can make an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000. You can also contribute to an Individual Retirement Account for your spouse, and as long as you are married, you can file a single tax return. The IRS currently has no annual contribution limit for Roth IRAs.

Self-Directed 401(k)s

The tax rules for self-directed 401(k)s are the same for the account of an employer sponsoring a 401(k) plan. That means you cannot deduct your losses until they're offset by gains.
A 401(k) plan allows employees to invest in a wide variety of assets, including real estate, precious metals, collectibles, and cash. As a participant, you can invest in any asset that the plan allows.
With self-directed 401(k)s, you buy an asset, modify it, or use it to earn a profit. Alternatively, you can acquire the asset through inheritance. If your plan allows it, you can also borrow to buy an asset.