Separate pre-tax, Roth, after-tax and employer money in the Intel 401(k). Confirm which amounts can be converted, check the yearly limits and keep records showing where each type of money goes.
Intel-specific foundation
Keep Intel after-tax basis and earnings separate
Intel's plan can hold pre-tax deferrals, Roth deferrals, after-tax employee contributions, employer contributions and earnings. After-tax contributions have already been included in taxable income, but their earnings generally have not. A statement that shows only the total balance is not enough for a conversion or rollover decision.
Intel’s filed plan includes pre-tax deferrals, designated Roth contributions and after-tax contributions. Statements should show these sources separately, together with employer amounts and earnings.
After-tax employee basis has already been included in income, but earnings generally have not. A conversion or distribution must account for both.
An in-plan Roth rollover moves eligible amounts to the designated Roth account within the plan. A permitted distribution may instead send after-tax basis to a Roth IRA and associated pre-tax amounts to a traditional destination when rules are satisfied.
The recordkeeper’s current process, eligible sources and tax reporting control. Do not improvise split checks without written instructions.
How the pieces interact
Choose destinations that preserve the tax treatment of each source
IRS rules can permit after-tax basis to move to a Roth IRA while associated pre-tax amounts move to a traditional IRA or eligible plan as part of a coordinated distribution. An in-plan Roth conversion follows a different process. If earnings have accumulated before conversion, those earnings may create taxable income. The recordkeeper's current transaction procedures are as important as the tax concept.
The IRS annual-addition limit generally counts elective deferrals, after-tax contributions and employer contributions. The regular deferral limit is separate, and eligible catch-up contributions receive separate treatment.
Monitor contributions after bonuses, match changes or a midyear job change. Leave room for expected employer contributions.
Request a source-level statement before distribution. Confirm where basis, earnings, Roth amounts and employer money will be sent and how each check will be titled.
Retain Forms 1099-R, transaction confirmations and receiving-account statements. An advisor can coordinate accounts, but tax reporting should be reviewed by a tax professional.
Put the guide to work
Document every step of the Intel conversion or rollover
The employee should keep source-level statements, transaction confirmations and Forms 1099-R long after the transfer. The goal is not merely to move money into an account labeled Roth; it is to show which dollars were already taxed, what taxable earnings were converted and where every part of the distribution landed.
Use the sequence below as preparation, not as individualized advice. Current Intel documents control employer benefits, and qualified tax or legal professionals should confirm decisions in their areas.
- Download a statement showing every contribution source
- Confirm after-tax basis and associated earnings
- Choose an in-plan conversion or permitted rollover path
- Coordinate destinations before requesting the distribution
- Reconcile the confirmation and Form 1099-R with a tax professional
Frequently asked questions
Questions employees ask next
Is Intel after-tax 401(k) money Roth?
No. After-tax contributions and designated Roth contributions are distinct sources even though both use after-tax dollars.
Are earnings on after-tax 401(k) contributions tax-free?
Not automatically. Earnings generally remain pre-tax unless converted, and a conversion may create taxable income.
Can after-tax basis go to a Roth IRA?
IRS rollover rules can permit coordinated destinations for after-tax and pre-tax amounts, but plan procedures and transaction details must be followed.
Primary sources
What this guide is based on
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