Compare Employer-Sponsored Plans

Review the differences between 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) Plans below. The table provides the rules within the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Some of the rules are required to be included in all plans while others are optional and may not be allowed in any particular Plan.

	401(k)^‡	403(b)	457(b)
Eligibility	Private employers, some non-profit employers, and churches	Public schools, colleges, universities, church-affiliated entities, and 501(c)(3) organizations	State and local governments or 501(c) organizations
Pre-Tax Contributions	Yes
Roth After-tax Contributions	Yes		Only permitted in governmental 457(b) plans
Age 50+ Catch-Up Contributions*	Yes $8,000 for 2026		Only permitted in governmental 457(b) plans
Additional Catch-Up*	Age 60-63 (up to $11,250 instead of the $8,000 listed above)	15-year rule** Age 60-63 (up to $11,250 instead of the $8,000 listed above)	Three-year rule*** Age 60-63 (up to $11,250 instead of the $8,000 listed above) Only permitted in governmental 457(b) plans
Limitations on Deferrals	Lesser of: IRC dollar limit: $24,500 for 2026, $23,500 for 2025 100% of compensation
Limitations on Total Contributions	Lesser of: IRC dollar limit: $72,000 for 2026, $70,000 for 2025 100% of compensation Limit coordinated across 401(k) and 403(b) plans in which you participate		Lesser of: IRC dollar limit: $24,500 for 2026, $23,500 for 2025 100% of compensation Limit not coordinated with 401(k) and 403(b) limit
Distributions While Employed	Only on account of: Hardship Age 59 ½ or older Qualified federally declared disasters Birth or adoption Domestic abuse survivor Small emergency		Only on account of: Unforeseeable emergency Age 59 ½ or older Governmental 457(b) plans also allow on the account of: Qualified federally declared disasters Birth or adoption Domestic abuse survivor Small emergency
Distributions Without Tax Penalty****	Retirement after age 55 Death or disability After age 59 ½ Lifetime annuity or installments Rollover Federally declared disaster Birth or adoption Domestic abuse survivor Small emergency Terminal illness		Not subject to 10% penalty with exception of amounts rolled over from plans that are subject to penalty taxes
Distributions With Tax Penalty****	Retirement or separation before age 55 Hardship (unless another IRC exception applies)		Amounts rolled over from other retirement plans may be subject to the penalty, if distributed prior to age 59 ½ (unless another IRC exception applies)
Required Minimum Distributions	April 1, following the later of the year in which you become age 73, or the year in which you retire.
Rollovers	Incoming and outgoing rollovers
Transfers	Incoming and outgoing transfers