Are Unemployment Benefits Taxable?

Are Unemployment Benefits Taxable?

Unemployment benefits can help you get by in the event of job loss, but this money is subject to taxes just like any other source of income. How much your unemployment benefits are taxed depends on your filing status, tax bracket, and state of residence.

In this guide to unemployment benefit taxes, you’ll learn the ins and outs so you can pay Uncle Sam what you owe. Read on to find out:

•   Are unemployment benefits taxable?

•   How are unemployment benefits taxed?

•   What are tips for paying taxes on unemployment benefits?

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Unemployment Benefits?

Yes, you do have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. They are taxable like any other income. That means you won’t actually get to keep all the money the government gives you while you’re unemployed. You’ll have to give some of it back, just as you do on many other forms of money you receive. It’s simply part of being a taxpayer.

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How Is Unemployment Taxed?

Now that you’ve learned that unemployment benefits are taxable, consider the details. How much are the taxes, is it just federal or state taxes too, and how do you pay them?

How Much Are Unemployment Benefits Taxed?

No matter which state you live in, your unemployment benefits are taxed at the federal level. That means everyone — including residents of states without income taxes — must pay taxes on unemployment compensation.

How much you owe depends on your filing status and tax bracket. The United States is on a progressive tax system: In general, the higher your adjusted gross income (AGI), the more you’ll pay in taxes.

For the 2024 tax season (filed in 2025), there are seven federal tax brackets, ranging from 10% to 37%.

Before filing your taxes, you’ll receive a Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments, reflecting your unemployment benefits. This form will indicate how much unemployment compensation you received as well as how much was withheld, if applicable. You’ll need this form, plus any records of quarterly payments (more on those below) when filing your taxes.

Unemployment Benefit Taxes at the State Level

When determining how much unemployment benefits are taxed, don’t forget that federal taxes may not be the only funds due. Depending on where you live, you may have to pay state income taxes on your unemployment compensation, too. Nine states do not have personal income taxes on what are considered wages:

•   Alaska

•   Florida

•   Nevada

•   New Hampshire

•   South Dakota

•   Tennessee

•   Texas

•   Washington

•   Wyoming

If you live in one of those nine states, you don’t have to pay state income taxes on unemployment benefits.

That said, four states that do have a state income tax also don’t tax your unemployment compensation:

•   California

•   New Jersey

•   Pennsylvania

•   Virginia

If you live in one of the remaining 37 states (or Washington, D.C.), you’ll have to pay state taxes on any unemployment earnings.

How to Pay Taxes on Unemployment Benefit

Like it or not, you’ll owe taxes (federal and maybe state) on any unemployment compensation. Now that you know how unemployment is taxed, consider how you can pay those taxes. You have two main options:

•   Have the taxes withheld like you would from a paycheck

•   Estimate and pay the taxes each quarter

Here’s a closer look at each option.

Withholding Taxes

When you initially apply for unemployment, you can ask to have taxes withheld from your payments. However, federal law has established a flat rate of 10% for tax withholding for unemployment benefits.

When you receive income as wages, you can usually specify how much you want to have withheld via filling out Form W-4.

If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket and need to pay more in taxes than what’s being withheld, you can make quarterly estimated payments for the difference.

If you’re currently receiving unemployment compensation and taxes aren’t being withheld, you can submit Form W-4V.PDF File , Voluntary Withholding Request, to initiate the 10% withholding on future benefit distributions.

Recommended: Does Filing for Unemployment Affect Your Credit Score?

Paying Quarterly

To avoid owing an underpayment penalty when you file your taxes, you may need to make quarterly estimated payments on your unemployment earnings. You can use Form 1040-ES and send in your payment by mail, or you can pay online or over the phone.

If you’re new to estimating taxes, you can use the IRS resource for quarterly taxes , work with an accountant, or use tax software.

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Tips for Paying Taxes on Unemployment Benefits

Being unemployed can be stressful, and on top of that, it may be hard to figure out how to properly pay taxes on unemployment benefits you receive. Follow this advice which can help simplify and clarify the process.

•   Opting into tax withholding: When you apply for unemployment, you can opt into automatic tax withholding at a flat 10% rate. While it may not be enough to cover your entire tax liability, it’s a good start — and can keep you from overspending your unemployment compensation.

•   Setting aside money in a high-yield savings account: If you don’t opt in to withholding (or if 10% is not enough to cover your tax liability), you’ll need to pay quarterly estimated taxes on your unemployment income. To avoid accidentally spending that money before it’s due, it’s a good idea to calculate what you’ll owe and put it in a savings account that pays a competition rate that you won’t touch until it’s time to pay Uncle Sam. Bonus: You’ll be earning interest on the money.

•   Keeping track of all your earnings and paperwork: Tax filing can be complicated — there are lots of forms to collect and statements to reference. Keeping clean records of benefit distributions and quarterly payments throughout is crucial to preparing for tax season.

•   Using IRS Free File: Because you have to pay taxes on all income, including unemployment, you’ll likely want some help. If your adjusted gross income is $84,000 or less, you can get free guided tax preparation software through IRS Free File . If your AGI is too high but you’re feeling overwhelmed by how complicated your taxes are, it might be a good idea to pay for tax software or hire an accountant.

•   Being aware of unemployment fraud: It’s possible for criminals to use your personal information to falsely make unemployment claims in your name. If you receive Form 1099-G for unemployment compensation but did not receive any unemployment benefits, follow the Department of Labor’s steps for reporting unemployment identity fraud .

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The Takeaway

Like other forms of income, unemployment benefits are subject to taxes. If you aren’t having taxes withheld from your unemployment compensation — or if the flat 10% rate is not high enough — the IRS requires that you pay quarterly taxes. Paying what you owe on unemployment benefits is an important and necessary step in correctly filing your tax return.

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FAQ

Do you pay less in taxes when you’re on unemployment?

Your tax rate depends on your adjusted gross income. If you earned less income because you were unemployed — and your unemployment checks are smaller than your paychecks had been — you can expect to pay less in taxes.

Are unemployment benefits taxed in states with no income tax?

Unemployment money is taxed at the federal level no matter which state you live in. However, if you live in a state with no state income taxes, you won’t have to pay state taxes on your unemployment benefits. Four states that levy income taxes also exempt you from paying those state taxes on unemployment compensation: California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Was pandemic unemployment taxed?

Pandemic unemployment was not taxed for the 2020 tax year — to a certain degree. Following the historic job loss associated with the initial wave of COVID-19, the government passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which made the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits non-taxable.

However, this was a one-time exclusion. Though the pandemic continued beyond the 2020 tax year, unemployment income became completely taxable once again.


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SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

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SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

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Guide to What Percentage of Income to Save

If you want to build financial security and hit your long-term savings goals, it’s probably a wise move to put a portion of each paycheck into a savings account.

Week by week, month by month, and year by year, the money will grow and help you afford your dreams, whether that means buying a house, funding your kids’ education, or having enough cash to retire early. Or all of the above.

But it can be challenging to know how much to stash away. Some people save 10% of their take-home pay, others three or four times that. Still others deposit a round number (be it $50, $500, or $5,000), into their savings account on a regular basis.

So how much should you aim to save? That depends upon a variety of factors, including your personal style and financial aspirations. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use percentages to your advantage when it comes to saving, plus hear smart advice on how to prioritize and reach your goals.

What Percent of Your Income Should You Save?

There isn’t a set percentage of how much of your annual income you should save. Much will depend on your particular circumstances. For example, your income, your cost of living, your expenses, and your debt level will all matter. A person who earns $75K per year, lives in an expensive city, has student loans to pay off, and is supporting a family of four will likely find it more difficult to save money than someone who is earning $125K, lives in a less pricey location, has zero loans to pay down, and is single with no dependents.

That said, you are likely to hear that 20% is a good number to aim for in terms of the percentage of your income to be saved. If that proves too high, then 10% is a good figure to use as a goal.

Pros and Cons of Saving a Fixed Percentage of Your Income

Sure, saving money is important. But what about saving a percentage vs. a specific dollar amount?

There are pluses and minuses to saving a fixed percentage of your income. This approach may or may not work for everyone. Consider the upsides first:

•   It’s consistent. You know that every paycheck, the percentage you’ve indicated will be heading into savings, helping you reach your financial goals. Even if your earnings vary, your savings will be aligned.

•   It protects you against lifestyle creep. If, say, you are saving $500 per pay period and then get a raise, you might just spend all of that additional cash you are earning. Called lifestyle creep, that means your expenses rise, gobbling up your enhanced income.

When, however, you set a percentage to go into savings, you know that the amount will automatically adjust with any income fluctuations. For instance, if your pay varies depending on your hours or goals achieved, you will always be allocating the same ratio of your money to savings, whether you earn more or less.

But there are potential downsides to consider too.

•   When you determine a percentage of income to save, it may feel more challenging to know how much you’re socking away. Again, if you allocate $500 a month to savings rather than a percentage, it’s easy to calculate where you stand at any moment during the year.

•   The way a percentage automatically adjusts to income changes may not suit you. For example, if you are saving 20% of your salary and then get a $10K raise, the amount funneled into savings will rise correspondingly. But what if you wanted to earmark that money to pay down your credit card debt more quickly? You will have to take steps to adjust where your money goes.

The 50/30/20 Rule

If you’re wondering, “What percent of my income should I save?” the 20% figure is likely to crop up often. One reason: the 50/30/20 budgeting plan, which was made popular by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and her daughter, Amelia Warren Tyagi, in a book they co-wrote. It suggests savers should allocate their money as follows:

•   50% of their after-tax paychecks toward essentials like housing, food, healthcare, and minimum debt payments.

•   30% toward discretionary spending

•   20% toward savings

So, someone who takes home $3,000 every two weeks (or $78k per year) might put $1,200 a month into savings. They would have $15,600 at the end of the year.

That’s just a guideline for getting started, though, so don’t panic if putting 20% into savings seems impossible right now. You can start at 10% or bump it up to 30% or more.

Recommended: See how your money is categorized using the 50/30/20 Calculator.

It All Starts With a Budget

Ack. The b-word: Budget. Making a budget may sound boring or even arduous, but it doesn’t have to be either. And sticking to a realistic spending plan can make or break a savings plan.

By prioritizing monthly expenses — from keeping a roof over your head to gassing up the car to indulging in a gelato or good sushi every Friday — you may be able to avoid impulse spending and hold on to more of your hard-earned dollars.

You can track your spending manually with a notebook or spreadsheets, or keep the data in the palm of your hand with a money-tracking app, where you can see your expenses, savings, and earnings all in one place whenever you want to take a peek.

4 Different Types of Savings

Once you determine what percentage you’ll be able to save from your salary, you may want to break down that amount even further, into separate designated “buckets” or sub-accounts for different goals, which could include things like:

1. Emergency Fund

An emergency fund has the potential to turn life’s potholes into speed bumps.

It’s money you can use to pay for unexpected expenses, such as medical bills, home repairs, and fender benders. And your emergency fund might serve as a lifeline if you lose your job and don’t have another source of income.

A good rule of thumb is to save at least three months’ salary, but you don’t have to come up with those dollars all at once.

You could start by saving a small amount each month — and you can always add to the fund when you get a raise, bonus, or tax refund. (You also should be prepared to replenish the fund if you have to use all or part of it at any point.)

The money in your emergency fund could go into a savings account at your local branch bank, or you might want to check out the benefits of an online bank account which might offer no account fees and a solid interest rate.

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2. Short-Term Goals

Most of us have goals we hope to fund in the next few months or couple of years. This could be anything from throwing your significant other a memorable birthday party to booking that vacation to Positano to affording a new car. You can start your own short-term fund at your financial institution. You can label the account “holiday spending” or earmark it for any other short-term goal: “Fall Wardrobe,” “Beach Vacation,” or maybe a “New Laptop.”

You may want to automate your savings and have money whisked from your checking as soon as your paycheck hits.

3. Long-Term Goals

Setting aside money for a long-term goal — a down payment on a house, a honeymoon in Bali, a year in Paris with your bestie — can feel like a slow slog. But you may improve your chances for success if you set up an account for the money and designate a consistent amount to slip in there from every paycheck.

Depending on your timeline, you may want to check into a certificate of deposit (CD), or you could stick with that same high-interest savings account, which you can build with automatic deposits and link to other accounts with a tracking app. These are secure ways to save towards future goals.

4. Retirement Savings

Another aspect of how much of your annual income you should save involves preparing for retirement. If you have a 401(k) investment savings account available through your employer, you’re likely already building wealth for retirement with automatic contributions every payday. And if your employer offers any type of matching contribution, you have an opportunity to grow your money even faster.

Beyond that, it’s up to you how big of a slice of your savings pie you want to put toward retirement at any time.

If you’re just starting out, and especially if you have some debts to pay off, saving for retirement may seem like the least of your worries. But the earlier you start putting money away, the faster it can grow. Time is the investor’s true friend; it allows you to ride the ups and downs of the market without panicking as you work toward your goals. (Remember, investments aren’t insured, so you need to be aware of the risk involved.)

If you don’t have an employer-sponsored plan — or even if you do, but you want more investment options or maybe more help than you’ve been getting — you can open your own traditional or Roth IRA outside of work. When considering which type of retirement account to open, IRA or 401(k), you might want to keep an eye on what fees might be associated with each plan.

It’s important to note that employer-sponsored plans allow investors to contribute more annually than an IRA would (basic limit in 2025: $23,500 for a 401(k) for those under age 50 vs. $7,000 for an IRA). And if the employer offers a matching contribution, that’s essentially free money you wouldn’t get from an IRA.

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Deciding on Your Goals

Goals are a good thing: They can provide motivation for saving. But they can’t just hang out there; they probably need some prioritizing. That doesn’t mean that you are picking just one to focus on. More likely, you are going to decide how to divvy up that percentage of your income that goes into savings.

Say you are committed to saving 20% of your income. You may want to determine percentages for:

•   Retirement

•   Your child’s college education

•   A down payment on a house

One person might split that as 10%, 5%, and 5%. Another might instead do 8%, 2% and 10%. It depends on your particular goals, how else you might finance them (perhaps you expect your child to take out student loans), and the urgency of each.

Setting a Timeline

Some goals will be easy to plot on a timeline. For example, if your wedding is in a year and you’re saving $6,000 for your honeymoon, you’ll need to save $500 a month.

Others goals will likely need more finessing. (The amount you might need for retirement, for example, can be tough to pin down.)

But you’ve got this. You’ve probably been editing your mental wish list since you were a kid saving for candy … no, a toy … no, a bike. And you’ll likely be doing that for the rest of your life. If there isn’t enough money, something has to go or at least wait.

Could you drive your old car for another year or two, thereby saving money daily, if it meant getting a house sooner? Should you work another year before taking time off to be a stay-at-home parent? Would a weekend in Vegas be just fine as this year’s vacation if it meant next year you could afford 10 days in Greece? Only you can make those choices.

Deciding how much money you’ll need when you’ll need it, and how long it will take to save it may seem daunting as you start toward each new goal.

But it also can help you stay motivated to note when you’re making headway. And you might even find new ways to cut expenses as you go — especially if you use an app to track your progress.

Pay Off Debt

The average American had almost $8,000 in high-interest credit card debt as of the end of 2022. In addition, many people are also shouldering other debts, such as car loans and student loans.

If you’re a part of those statistics, paying off those debts could be the most important part of your saving plan.

How’s that?

•   Any debt on which you’re paying interest can feel painful. But if you’ve missed some credit card payments and you’re paying the default rate, say 27%, you’re likely putting an awful lot of money toward your past instead of toward your future.

•   High-interest debt can drag you down, so it’s important to ditch it as quickly as possible. Once you know where you stand with your budget and your savings goals, you may want to start by building a sort of “starter” emergency fund and then move forward with a personal debt reduction plan, like the debt avalanche, debt snowball, or the hybrid debt fireball, which focuses on paying high-interest debt in a way that can build momentum and keep you motivated.

Here’s how the debt fireball method works:

1.    Categorize your debts as either “good” or “bad.” (“Good” debts are generally for things that have potential to increase your net worth, like student loans or a mortgage. “Bad” debt is usually considered to be debt incurred for a depreciating asset, like car loans and credit card debt.) As you develop the list, note all the debts with higher interest rates, above what student loans and mortgages charge (say, 8% or higher) This is likely the “bad” debt you’ll want to focus on first.

2.    List your “bad” debts from smallest to largest based on their outstanding balances.

3.    Make the minimum monthly payment on all outstanding debts, then funnel any excess funds to the smallest of your “bad” debts.

4.    When that balance is paid in full, go on to the next smallest on the bad-debt list. Blaze through those balances until all your “bad” debt is repaid.

5.    When that’s done, keep paying off your debt on the normal schedule while also putting more into various savings strategies that will help get you to your goals.

Remaining Flexible

Consistency can be a key to successful saving. Otherwise, it’s just too darn easy to let yourself off the hook from paycheck to paycheck, month to month, and year to year. But that doesn’t mean your savings plan has to feel like a forced march.

Flexibility is also important.

A savings plan that seems smart and doable today may feel like torture six months from now. Or you might get a raise and decide your plan is actually far too easy and you could be socking away much more.

You might need a major car repair (or a whole new car). Get married. Have a baby. Get sick. Get fired. Or get hired for your dream job and have to move to Dubai.

Life changes. So it makes sense to tighten and lighten your budget — and the savings aspect you build into that budget — as necessary. If you’re tracking your expenses regularly, you may be better able to gauge how you’re doing and make any course corrections that much more quickly.

Anything Saved Is Better Than Nothing

It can feel discouraging when you get started on a long-term savings plan. Say you want to accumulate $60,000 for a down payment on a house. Perhaps saving 20% of your paycheck is impossible right now. And putting a couple of hundred dollars as a start can feel as if you will never reach your goal.

But over time, that little bit of money regularly contributed will indeed grow and propel you ever closer to your goal. Getting in the habit of contributing frequently can be a goal in and of itself, even if the amount is not as high as you’d like.

You may have also had this experience with shorter-term goals, such as building an emergency fund. Even if you only start by contributing $20, you will eventually reach your aim with steady saving.

Start Saving With SoFi

If you’re ready to start on the path to achieving a savings goal, look for a financial partner that minimizes fees and maximizes interest, to help your money work harder.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 3.80% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

Is it good to save 50% of your income?

It’s a wise move to save a portion of your paycheck, and 20% is an often-quoted figure to aim for. Fifty percent may be too high for many people, but if you can afford to save half of your take-home pay, you may get to your savings goals that much more quickly.

Is 20% of your income enough to save?

Many financial experts recommend saving 20% of your income or more if you can. The 20% figure is part of the popular 50/30/20 budget rule. However, some people may want to save more if possible, especially if they have a couple of major long-term goals they are saving for, such as buying a home, saving for their children’s education, and affording an early retirement.

What is the 60/20/20 rule?

The 60/20/20 rule is similar to the 50/30/20 budget guideline. In this case, it means that a person allocates 60% of their take-home pay to necessities, 20% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings.


SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2025 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.


SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

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Investing an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund can help you cover sudden and unexpected expenses. If your company downsizes, or you get in a car accident that isn’t covered by insurance, having money set aside to help pay the bills could keep costs from spiraling out of control.

But how big of an emergency fund do you need and does it need to be in liquid assets like cash, or should you invest your emergency fund?

Read on to learn more about whether investing an emergency fund is a smart idea.

Should You Invest Your Emergency Fund?

The default answer, historically, has been no when it comes to investing an emergency fund, because of the potential risk and the likelihood that you won’t be able to access it when you need it. But, increasingly, investing your emergency fund is becoming a viable option — particularly if your situation makes you less reliant on cash at hand.

So, should you invest your emergency fund? There are a number of reasons you might want to consider doing so. For instance, the returns can add up and if you wait, you could be leaving money on the table.

Here are some of the pros and cons to investing an emergency fund:

The Pros of Investing an Emergency Fund

You Could Make a Higher Return on Your Money

The number-one reason to park your emergency fund in an investment account is the potential for a higher return on your money than in a savings account.

For instance, you could put your emergency fund into a money market account or high-yield bank account that will earn you a higher rate of interest than a standard bank account.

You Can Still Access Your Funds Easily

There are a number of investment options, such as a money market account, or high-yield bank account ,or even a Roth IRA, that allow you to withdraw your money if you need it.

For instance, with a Roth IRA, you can withdraw contributions at any time without paying a penalty, unlike a traditional IRA that may impose a 10% penalty on early withdrawals.

The Cons of Investing an Emergency Fund

It Might Take You Longer to Get Your Money

You might have to go through extra steps to get your money. Even if you temporarily put an emergency expense on a credit card and then pull money out of a money market account to pay off the credit card when it’s due, that’s still less accessible than simply having the money in your bank account.

You Could Risk Losing Money

If you invest your money — whether it’s in a mutual fund or pick and choose your own stocks — it always carries some risk. The market can dip at any given point, which can be a problem if your investments dip at the same time you need to tap into them.

If you’re considering investing your emergency fund, then it can be helpful to understand your options and the basics of investing.

This chart gives you a side-by-side comparison of the pros and cons of investing an emergency fund.

Pros

Cons

You could earn a higher return of your money by investing it. You risk losing your money if the stock market drops.
The money can be easily accessible if you invest in a money market account or high-yield savings account. It can take you longer to get your money and may involve an extra step or two.

💡 Quick Tip: All investments come with some degree of risk — and some are riskier than others. Before investing online, decide on your investment goals and how much risk you want to take.

3 Options for Investing An Emergency Fund

Should I invest my emergency fund? This is a question you’ll need to consider carefully. Be sure to weigh the benefits and drawbacks.

Part of the decision to invest your emergency fund will be finding an appropriate account. There are a few options that could work, depending on your financial situation.

High-yield savings account

These accounts come with a higher APY — potentially 3.00% APY or more right now — than traditional bank accounts. You can easily access your money from an online high-yield savings account, just as with any other bank account.

Money Market Account

Money market accounts earn interest and are essentially a combination of a savings account and a checking account. They tend to be low risk and may allow you to access your money by writing a check or using a debit card.

Roth IRA

With a Roth IRA, you can contribute money (up to $7,000 annually in 2024 and 2025, not including catch-up contributions for those 50 and older) and withdraw your contributions (but not your earnings) without penalty. The contributions you make to an IRA are taxable.

And remember, the general rule of thumb when it comes to investing is, the higher the investment risk, the higher the potential for return — but a risky investment could be even riskier if you intend to use the money as an emergency fund.

💡 Quick Tip: Did you know that you must choose the investments in your IRA? Once you open a new IRA and start saving, you get to decide which mutual funds, ETFs, or other investments you want — it’s totally up to you.

Investing With SoFi

If you don’t want to invest your entire emergency fund, you could consider saving a portion in a traditional savings account and investing another allotted amount. That way, you could rely on cash for immediate emergencies and have a backup of invested funds you can rely on in the event that something major, and more expensive, happens.

What’s most important is that you have a plan to deal with emergencies — because like it or not, eventually, you’ll likely have some unexpected event or cost that you need to cover.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

Invest with as little as $5 with a SoFi Active Investing account.


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FAQ

Is it wise to invest your emergency fund?

Whether to invest your emergency fund or not is a personal decision that you should consider carefully, since investments can be risky. One thing to keep in mind: Your funds should be easily accessible so that you can tap into them quickly if an emergency happens. Think about possible investments that offer liquidity, such as high-yield bank accounts and money market funds.

How much of my emergency fund should I invest?

Experts advise having at least three to six months’ worth of expenses on hand where you can access them easily, such as in a bank account. Anything more than that you may want to consider investing. But investing is a personal choice and one you should consider carefully, and it will also depend on your specific financial situation.

What should an emergency fund not be used for?

It’s best to use an emergency fund for urgent or sudden expenses that are necessary, such as emergency car or home repairs. You should not use an emergency fund for frivolous expenses or things you simply want, like a fancy vacation or new clothes.


SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2025 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.


SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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Ways to Build Wealth at Any Age

Whether you want a worry-free retirement or a custom-built home, your financial goals are worthy investments. And building wealth is likely a foundational goal for most people, as it can help them achieve most, if not all of their financial goals.

There are some tried and true ways to save money and build wealth at any age — whether you use those funds for immediate purchases, long-term goals such as retirement, or estate planning for after you’re gone. The key is to start as soon as possible, rather than wait until “the right time.”

Set Short- and Long-Term Goals

The first step in building wealth is to set short and long-term goals you can revisit throughout your journey.

Short-term goals focus on achieving more immediate results, such as funding next summer’s trip or buying a new car. In contrast, long-term goals might require several years or more of preparation. For example, you may want to collect enough to pay off your mortgage or send your kid to college expenses. Creating realistic goals at the start gives you direction, so make them as specific as possible.

💡 Quick Tip: Did you know that opening a brokerage account typically doesn’t come with any setup costs? Often, the only requirement to open a brokerage account — aside from providing personal details — is making an initial deposit.

Create a Budget

Once you know your goals, drafting a monthly budget becomes more manageable. Document up to three months’ worth of expenses and then break the list down into fixed costs, variable costs, necessary costs and discretionary costs. You probably can’t stop paying your utilities, but you will likely find places to save in your discretionary category (think restaurant meals, or entertainment expenses). Dedicate a portion of that discretionary spending to your goal’s fund regularly.

Taking stock of your financial situation gives you a clearer understanding of where you are, where you’re going to go, and how you’re going to get there.

Pay Off Debt

To dedicate more money toward building wealth and saving for your goals, you’ll likely need to pay off some debt first. You can use your discretionary income as a tool for minimizing your debt load. If you have multiple debts, consider using a debt repayment method, such as the avalanche method or the snowball method, to accelerate the process.

Debt Repayment: The Avalanche Method

The avalanche method prioritizes high-interest debts by ranking the interest rates from greatest to least. Then, regularly pay the minimum on each of your debts, and put any leftover funds towards the one with the highest interest rate. Once you pay that off, continue on to the second-highest debt. Follow that pattern to minimize the interest you’re paying as you become debt-free.

Debt Repayment: Snowball Method

Alternatively, the snowball method is another debt repayment strategy. It’s essentially the opposite of the avalanche approach. List your debts from smallest principal to largest, ignoring the interest rates. Then, regularly dedicate enough funds to each to avoid penalties, and put any extra money toward the smallest debt.

After the smallest debt is paid, redirect your attention to the next largest debt, and so on. As the number of individual debts shrink, you’ll have more money to apply towards the larger debts. You may still have interests to worry about but picking off the debts one by one can impart a sense of forward movement and accomplishment.

Start Investing

If you haven’t already, find out what if any employer-sponsored retirement savings plans are available to you, such as a 401(k). These qualified retirement plans offer tax advantages and typically allow you to direct a portion of your paycheck to your account, putting your savings on autopilot. If your workplace does not offer any retirement accounts, consider opening an IRA or a brokerage account to build an investment portfolio.

Generally, investing for retirement when you’re young means you can take on more risks. While a diversified portfolio is a standard strategy, younger investors might have a portfolio that’s heavier on equities early, since they may help you capitalize on long-term growth. As you get older and closer to retirement, your risk profile may change and your portfolio will need a rebalancing to incorporate more fixed-income investments.

💡 Quick Tip: Distributing your money across a range of assets — also known as diversification — can be beneficial for long-term investors. When you put your eggs in many baskets, it may be beneficial if a single asset class goes down.

How to Increase Your Income and Save More

You might be getting by on your current income, but if you had the chance to boost it, wouldn’t you? With an extra-positive cash flow, you could tackle debt, save more, and achieve your goals sooner. Here are a few ways to make that happen.

Ask for a Raise

Asking for a salary increase is one solution for improving your cash flow. All it takes is one good conversation, a positive work record — and a bit of courage and confidence. Speak to your peers and read up on how to conduct yourself when asking. Going in with a plan will save you anxiety and help you get your points across clearly.

Seek Other Investment Opportunities

When investment opportunities pop up, take advantage of the ones that speak to you whenever possible. Some may be easier to break into, like real estate, one of the world’s largest asset classes. Other options include gold and silver, which you can invest in physically or through ETFs. For investors willing to take on a higher-risk opportunity, investing in startups may be appealing. It all comes down to what investment will best serve your personal short- and long-term goals.

Start a Side Gig

Additional work is also great to bulk up your resume and create new connections. It seems like everyone is starting up a side hustle these days. From online shops to freelancing, the opportunities are endless. All you have to do is determine your marketable skills and how to advertise them. There might be local opportunities, or you can create a profile online on side hustle-oriented websites.

Cut Expenses

Sometimes it’s not about finding new currents of money, but about creating a larger pool with the money already coming in. Take a second pass at your list of discretionary expenses to pinpoint a few more areas you could cut back on without feeling the impact in your day-to-day life.

One good example: Automatically renewed subscriptions for streaming services and local businesses, like gyms, are convenient. But think about how frequently you use the service. If the answer is “not often,” you’re not getting your money’s worth — and you may want to negotiate a lower fee, or cut the subscription altogether.

How to Build Wealth at Every Stage of Life

While it’s good to have a general strategy in place for building wealth and increasing cash flow, different stages in your life may require you to focus on different things. Taking advantage of the opportunities each decade brings you will help you financially adjust and build a stable lifestyle.

In Your 20s

You may be right out of school and trying to navigate the job market, but don’t wait to start working towards your long-term financial goals. The sooner you start, the sooner you’re likely to reach your goals.

Create an Emergency Fund

Generally, an emergency fund should include about three to six months’ worth of living expenses. Although that sounds like a lot, you’ll be grateful for the cushion if you should lose your job, or crash your car, or have a medical emergency. Unexpected things happen all the time, and an emergency fund will protect you while you get things back up and running. It will also keep you from having to touch other savings accounts, like a retirement account.

Eliminate High-Interest Debt

Your student loans aren’t going anywhere, so pay them off as soon as possible. The same goes for any other high-interest debt you might have incurred, such as with a credit card. Paying off growing interest rates will bog down your ability to save.

However, don’t be afraid to use your credit cards. Your 20s are the perfect time to build credit, which will be vital to certain goals, like purchasing a house. Use them strategically and pay them off immediately to build an upstanding credit history.

In Your 30s

Your 30s may bring some stability into your life, whether it’s regular work, a partner, and/or kids. However, the costs you’re facing are likely growing with you. Focus on money moves that will benefit you long-term.

Plan for College Expenses

If you have children, saving for their education is a big step. Use opportunities like a 529 account to help provide the funding. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan you can use to pay for future tuition and related costs. That said, many people who’ve been there, and done that, may advise against prioritizing your kids’ education over your retirement.

Pad the Nest Egg

By some popular estimates, by age 30 you should have at least one year’s worth of your annual salary saved for your retirement — and twice that by 35. Incrementally increasing the amount you put towards your savings will help boost that number as well.

In Your 40s and Beyond

By 40, conventional wisdom holds that you should be well on your way to a growing nest egg with three times your annual salary saved up. At this stage, you may also have other assets to your name, such as property. If you have kids, they might be nearing college age, and retirement might not seem quite as far away as it once did.

Protect Your Wealth

It’s always smart to protect your assets and yourself. Make sure you have insurance covering both your estate and yourself (through health and life insurance). Insurance can take a burden off of your family’s shoulders in case anything happens to you.

Capitalize on Make-Up Contributions

A make-up, or catch-up, contribution, is an additional payment that anyone over age 50 can make to their 401(k) or IRAs retirement savings account. If you’re in a financial position to contribute these extra funds, it can help bulk up those savings to help prepare for retirement.

For 2024 and 2025, the maximum allowable catch-up contribution to 401(k) plans, per year, is $7,500. For 2025, those aged 60 to 63 can contribute an extra $11,250 (instead of $7,500).

The IRA annual contribution limit for 2024 and 2025 is $7,000, with those 50 and above allowed to contribute another $1,000 a year. In total, anyone 50 and older can put $8,000 into their IRA annually.

Wait to Take Social Security

Did you know you could receive a higher Social Security benefit if you wait to claim your benefits? Those who hold off collecting Social Security until age 67 get 108% of their benefits, and those who wait until the age of 70 can receive 132% of their monthly benefit. On the other hand, if you begin taking benefits early, at age 62, you’ll receive 25% less in monthly benefits.

Shift Your Asset Allocation

Investors should periodically revisit their portfolio and reassess their investments and risk level. As you get closer to retirement, you may decide to allocate a larger part of your portfolio to safer choices like bonds and other fixed-income.

The Takeaway

Building wealth at any age starts with a frank look at your current income and expenditures, a detailed list of short-term and long-range goals — and a little follow-through based on where you are in life.

Some ways to start building wealth are to take on a side gig or side hustle, find ways to cut expenses and increase savings rates, and to start investing. There are numerous ways to do any of these, and it may take some experimenting to see what works for you.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.


SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $50 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

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How to Make Changes to Your 401(k) Contributions

Whether you just set up your 401(k) plan or you established one long ago, you may want to change the amount of your contributions — or even how they’re invested. Fortunately, it’s usually a fairly straightforward process to change 401(k) contributions.

How often can you change your 401(k) contributions? You may be able to make changes at any time, depending on your plan. After all, the point of a 401(k) plan is to help you save for your retirement. So it’s important to keep an eye on your account and your investments within the account, to make sure that you’re saving and investing according to your goals.

Learn how to maximize your 401(k), change your 401(k) contributions, and save for retirement.

Key Points

•   Adjusting 401(k) contributions can usually be done at any time, depending on the specific plan rules.

•   Employers may match contributions up to a certain percentage, enhancing the value of saving.

•   Changes in financial circumstances or salary increases can justify modifying contribution amounts.

•   Rebalancing investment allocations periodically is crucial to maintain desired risk levels.

•   Automatic contribution increases can be set up to progressively enhance retirement savings.

Purpose of a 401(k)

A 401(k) is a retirement account that a company may offer to its employees. In some cases, enrollment in the employer’s 401(k) is automatic; in other cases it’s not. Be sure to check, so that you can take advantage of this savings opportunity.

Employees may contribute a portion of their paycheck to their 401(k) account, and employers might also contribute to each employee’s account (again, depending on the plan).

The employer’s portion is called the company’s “match” or matching funds. Typically, an employer might match up to a certain percentage of what the employee saves. One common matching plan is when a company matches 50 cents for every dollar saved, up to 6% of the employee’s total contributions. Terms vary, so it’s best to ask your Human Resources representative what the match is.

The money a participant contributes to their 401(k) plan is technically called an “elective salary deferral” because it’s optional, not required, and those deductions are not included in an employee’s taxable income. That’s why 401(k) and similar accounts (like a 403(b) and most IRAs) are often called tax-deferred accounts: You don’t pay taxes on the money you’ve saved until you withdraw the money in retirement.

This tax benefit can be significant. Every dollar you save reduces your taxable income, which may result in a lower tax bill in some cases.

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Can You Change Your 401(k) Contribution at Any Time?

While the opportunity to make changes to some employee benefits, like health insurance, are generally only offered once a year during so-called open enrollment periods, many 401(k) plans allow participants to change the amount of their 401(k) contributions at any point. According to Department of Labor guidelines, an employer must allow plan participants to change investments at least quarterly (sometimes more often, if company stock or other high-risk investments are offered by the plan).

These are some of the reasons you may want to change 401(k) contribution amounts.

The Ability to Save More

You may have gotten a raise, or experienced a change in your financial circumstances, and wish to increase the percentage of your savings. Contributions to these plans are typically expressed as a percentage of your annual salary. For example, if you earn $75,000 per year, and your contribution rate is 10%, you would save a total of $7,500 per year. If you got a raise to $80,000 and now wish to contribute 12%, you would save a total of $9,600 per year.

To Get the Match

As discussed above, some 401(k) plans offer a savings match from the employer. In most cases, the match is a set percentage of the employee’s contribution. If you started your 401(k) at a point when you couldn’t get the full match, you may want to increase your contributions to get the full employer match.

Rebalancing Your Asset Allocation

If you’ve held the account for a while, say a year or more, the original allocation of your investments — i.e. the balance between equities, cash, and fixed income investments — may have shifted. Restoring the original balance of your investments may be a priority, if your strategy and risk tolerance haven’t changed.

Changing Your Asset Allocation

You also might want to shift the asset allocation because your financial strategy has become more aggressive (i.e. tilting toward stocks) or more conservative (tilting toward cash and fixed income).

Setting Up Automatic Increases

Some plans offer participants the option of automatically increasing their contribution rate every year, typically up to a certain percentage (e.g. 15%), and not to exceed the maximum contribution levels. The IRS contribution limit for 401(k) plans for 2024 is $23,000 for participants under age 50. Those 50 and older can save an extra $7,500 in “catch-up contributions,” for a total of $30,500.

For 2025, the contribution limit is $23,500 for participants under age 50. Those 50 and older can save an extra $7,500 in “catch-up contributions”, for a total of $31,000. In addition for 2025, those aged 60 to 63 may contribute an additional $11,250, instead of $7,500.

Setting up automatic increases allows you to save more in your 401(k) each year without having to think about it; this can be beneficial for overcoming the inertia common among some savers.

How to Change 401(k) Contributions: 3 Steps

Again, the 401(k) plan provider will be able to advise participants on how often they can make changes to their contributions, and what the process will look like. For employees unsure of who the plan provider is, the company’s human resource department can point them in the right direction.

In some cases, participants can change their contributions directly through their plan provider’s website. Generally, the process of making changes to a 401(k) looks like this:

Step 1:

The employee contacts their 401(k) provider to discuss how to change contributions for their particular 401(k) plan.

Step 2:

The employee considers how much of their paycheck they want to contribute to their 401(k) moving forward, taking their company’s 401(k) match into consideration, and ideally contributing at least that much. The employee might also change their asset allocation, depending on plan rules.

Step 3:

The participant fills out any forms (online or via paperwork) to confirm their new contribution.

Often, these steps can take just a few minutes, using your plan sponsor’s website.

Why Contribute to a 401(k)? 3 Good Reasons

Contributing to a 401(k) plan is an important way to save for retirement. The funds in a 401(k) are invested, generally in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or target date funds — which can offer the potential for growth over time. Typically there are about eight to 12 investment options in most 401(k) plans.

But perhaps the three best reasons to contribute to a 401(k) plan are the opportunity to save automatically via regular payroll deductions; the potentially lower tax bill; and the ability to get “free money” from your employer match, if it’s offered.

Low-stress Saving

For many people, this type of investment is easy because you can choose how much of your salary to contribute each pay period, and deductions happen automatically. You don’t have to think about your savings, your contributions are taken directly from each paycheck, so it helps to build your nest egg over time.

Lower Taxable Income

Another benefit is the potential for savings during tax season. Since the contributions an employee makes to their 401(k) plan over the course of the year aren’t included in their taxable income, that can lower their overall taxable income. This, in turn, may result in an individual falling into a lower tax bracket and paying less income tax for that year.

And in the future, when they might likely be in a lower tax bracket due to retirement, they’ll pay lower taxes when they withdraw the money from their 401(k) account.

Note: Withdrawing money from a 401(k) account before retirement age may lead to early withdrawal penalties.

Another perk of enrolling in a 401(k) plan is the notion of “free money” from one’s employer. Some companies match a portion of their employees’ contributions — often around 50 cents to $1 for each dollar that an employee contributes.

Typically, an employer might set a maximum matching limit, such as 3% to 6% of the employee’s salary.

This matching contribution is often referred to as free money because the contribution effectively increases an employee’s income without increasing their current tax bill. It’s worth noting that an employer’s match generally vests over the course of three or four years — meaning that the employer-contributed money will accrue in the account, but an employee won’t be able to keep it if they switch jobs, unless they remain with the company for that set period of time.

Setting up Recurring Contributions

When it comes to setting up a 401(k), the process varies by workplace. Some companies offer automatic enrollment to employees, automatically reducing the employee’s wages by a certain amount and diverting that money to the employee’s 401(k) plan, unless the employee chooses not to have their wages contributed.

Or, an employee can choose to enroll, but to contribute a custom amount. This type of contribution is referred to as an elective deferral.

In companies that don’t offer automatic enrollment as an option, employees will need to work with their HR department and retirement plan provider to get their 401(k) set up.

Participants need to decide how much they want to contribute and they may need to choose their investments. They can also opt to take advantage of autopilot settings, and can roll over a 401(k) from a past job into their new one.

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How Much to Save for Retirement

The Department of Labor (DOL) outlined a few best practices for investing in order to save for retirement.

It estimated that most Americans will need 70% to 90% of their preretirement income saved by retirement, in order to maintain their current standard of living. Doing that math can give plan participants an idea of how much they should be contributing to their 401(k).

Participants might also consider a few basic investment principles, such as diversifying retirement investments to reduce risk and improve return. These investment choices may evolve overtime depending on someone’s age, goals, and financial situation.

The DOL recommends that employees contribute all they can to their employer-sponsored 401(k) plan to take advantage of benefits like lower taxes, company contributions, and tax deferrals.

Adding Alternative Investments to a 401(k)

Some savers may find themselves interested in pursuing alternative investments when saving for retirement. An alternative investment takes place outside of the traditional markets of stocks, fixed-income, and cash. This method may appeal to those looking for portfolio diversification. Popular examples of alternative investments are private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, real estate, and commodities.

Self-directed 401(k)s allow participants to add alternate investments to their 401(k) portfolio. With a self-directed 401(k), the investor chooses a custodian such as a brokerage or investment firm to hold the amount of assets and execute the purchase or sale of investments on the participant’s behalf. If an employer offers a self-directed 401(k), the custodian will likely be the plan administrator.

The Takeaway

For employees looking to change 401(k) contributions, the process is often as simple as reaching out to your plan provider and confirming that you’re allowed to make a change at this time.

Some companies have rules around when and how often employees can make changes to their contributions. Once you have the go-ahead to make the change, and have considered what works best for your current financial situation and your future goals, it’s generally straightforward.

A company-sponsored 401(k) plan offers many benefits, but once you leave your job, many of those benefits — including the employer-matching program — no longer apply. At that point, you may want to consider doing a rollover of your previous 401(k) to an IRA, so you can remain in control of your money.

Ready to invest for your retirement? It’s easy to get started when you open a traditional or Roth IRA with SoFi. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

Easily manage your retirement savings with a SoFi IRA.


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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

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