457(b) Retirement Plan A 457(b) plan is a non-qualified, tax-deferred compensation plan that gives an employee another vehicle to save for retirement. Contributions are made from pre-tax wages and under this arrangement an employee agrees to take a reduction in salary. The salary reduction contributions reduce the employee’s taxable compensation for federal and state income tax purposes only. Those contributions do not reduce wages for the purposes of FICA taxes or determining Social Security benefits.   The salary reduction contribution is directed into the 457(b) investments. Investment options within this plan will be less varied than under a 403(b) plan. The 457(b) contributions grow tax-free until withdrawal at retirement or termination of employment. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets the maximum contribution limits. Contributions made to this plan are considered separate from contributions made to 403(b) plans for purposes of the IRS maximum contribution limits. Thus, an employee can set up a 457(b) and 403(b) plan and maximize contributions (per IRS limits) to both plans.      Because contributions are made before tax, taxes become due when withdrawals are made at retirement or termination of employment. Unlike a qualified plan (such as a 403(b) plan), the 457(b) plan does not impose the 10% penalty for early withdrawal. Early withdrawals are allowed only at the time of termination or, while still employed, in the case of “extreme financial hardship” or “unforeseeable emergency” as defined in the plan document (per IRS guidelines for hardship withdrawals). There are no loan provisions available under the TCAPS 457(b) plan.   TCAPS offers its employees a 457(b) plan through the TBA Credit Union. Employees wishing to pursue any transactions related to this plan (rollovers, hardship withdrawals, etc.) must coordinate them with our third-party administrator, TSA Consulting Group (TSACG). Appropriate forms can be obtained by going to the TSACG website (www.tsacg.com), under Employee information.   Changes to the amount being deferred from salary (payroll deduction) can be made using TSACG’s Salary Reduction Agreement form, which must be forwarded to the TCAPS Payroll Department for initial processing.   DISCLAIMER: This is a summary only. In all cases the plan document and current IRS regulations will prevail. Return to the Business Home Page.