401(k) rollover calculator

Vested dollars, fee drag, Roth conversion tax, and the cash-out penalty. Numbers update as you type. The URL is shareable.

Quick answer: This calculator compares leaving a 401(k) at an old job, rolling it to a new 401(k) or an IRA, converting to Roth, or cashing out. It uses the vesting, fees, tax rate, and penalty assumptions you type.

Read the rollover guide first if you have not. Rule of 55 and NUA do not fit in a spreadsheet — they can still beat the “highest bar.”

Statement balance (old 401k) Vested % Unpaid loan Your age Years until you tap it Expected annual return %

Old plan all-in fee % New 401(k) all-in fee % IRA all-in fee % Ordinary tax rate now % Tax rate in retirement %

All-in fee = expense ratio plus plan admin, as a percent of assets. IRA “fee” is usually just the fund ER if you pick an index.

After 20 years, after-tax spending power

Estimates only. The 10% additional tax before age 59½ is IRC §72(t). Rule of 55, NUA, state tax, NIIT, and IRMAA are not in these bars. A conversion uses today’s rate; the IRA and 401(k) bars apply the retirement rate at the end. Fee drag is the return you type minus the all-in fee you type. Educational only.

Need the sequenced checklist (beneficiaries, 1099-R codes, after-tax split)? Premium playbook, PayPal.

What this means for you

What this means for you: cashing out is usually the smallest bar because of tax and the 10% additional tax the page attributes to IRC 72(t) when it applies. Fee drag is your return minus the all-in fee. Rule of 55 and net unrealized appreciation are not in the bars.

How to use this calculator

Open the 401(k) rollover calculator and keep the sample numbers or replace them with your own. The result updates as you type.
Read the headline figure first, then the breakdown or chart under it.
Use Copy share link if you want those inputs in the URL. The page is an educational estimate, not a filing, approval, or recommendation.

FAQ

Does a rollover to an IRA tax the balance?

A direct rollover to a traditional IRA is not the taxable path in this model. A Roth conversion uses today's rate. Cashing out uses tax and the penalty when the page applies it.

What is fee drag here?

The return you type minus the all-in fee you type, grown over the years you type.

Is the 10% penalty always on?

The page applies the additional tax under its age rule and says Rule of 55 is out of scope.

Educational, not financial advice. Page updated October 24, 2026 — no tax, limit, or rate figure was changed in this review.