I Want to Retire But I Have a 401(k) Loan & Are 401(k) Loans Double Taxed? episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 15, 2025 · 43 MIN

I Want to Retire But I Have a 401(k) Loan & Are 401(k) Loans Double Taxed?

from Retired-ish

If you're planning to retire in the next year or two and you have a 401(k) loan, this episode could save you thousands of dollars in taxes. I've seen too many people walk into retirement with an outstanding loan balance and get blindsided by a massive tax bill they could have easily avoided with a little planning. Then we're going to tackle one of the biggest myths in the retirement world - the idea that 401(k) loans are double taxed. Spoiler alert: they're not, and even very influential financial gurus get this wrong. More specifically, Cameron discusses: The requirements for a tax-free loan from an employer plan such as a 401(k) The tax ramifications of a "Deemed Distribution" The tax ramifications of a "Qualified Plan Loan Offset" or QPLO Potential tax pitfalls when retiring with an outstanding plan loan balance Are 401(k) loans double taxed? Key moments: (00:00) 401(k) Loans and Retirement (02:12) Requirements for Tax-Free 401(k) Loans (06:33) "Deemed Distributions" Explained (11:03) "Qualified Plan Loan Offsets" and Rollovers (15:43) Retirement Tax Planning & ACA Subsidies (19:28) Case Study: ACA Subsidies at Risk with Outstanding 401(k) Loan Balance (27:01) Alternatives for 401(k) Loan Repayment (30:20) Debunking the Double Taxation Myth of 401(k) Loans (39:51) True Costs of 401(k) Loans Resources: Get Show Notes Here Retired-ish Newsletter Sign-Up See if you're a good fit for our Free Tax-Optimized Retirement Playbook™      

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I Want to Retire But I Have a 401(k) Loan & Are 401(k) Loans Double Taxed?

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