401(k) Contribution — Payroll Definition

Pre-tax retirement savings deducted from your paycheck, reducing your taxable income.

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. Contributions are deducted from your paycheck BEFORE income taxes are calculated (pre-tax), which lowers your current taxable income. For 2026, the maximum employee contribution is $24,500 ($32,500 for workers 50+). Many employers offer a "match" — for example, dollar-for-dollar up to 4% — which is essentially free money. Roth 401(k) contributions are made after-tax but grow tax-free.

Common pay stub code: 401K / ROTH401K