What’s the big deal about the 401k tax break? Legitimately confused because you have to pay taxes on it eventually when you take the money out

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You'd probably be at a lower tax bracket by then vs paying now in your peak earning years

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EY2. Multiplication is commutative. Tax free growth now and 50% tax later = 50% tax now and same growth.

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People typically earn less in retirement, so you are taxed less. You’re correct that this is not always true though.

Thanks EY1! That makes sense

You don’t pay taxes going in, so the base of your retirement growth is greater. Your alternative is investing post tax dollars and paying income tax up front AND capital gains in the end.

^ you'd have to pay taxes when you take money out regardless of that money being from a 401k or from invested income. Not 100% but I don't think tax bracket applies to capital gains?

With the recent tax cuts, tax impact might be less now.

McK1, standard 401k is all taxed as regular income when it's withdrawn.

OP, as far as the tax advantages, it's only taxed once: at withdrawal. You can do the math, it's a simple Excel take, but basically the benefit is about the equivalent of 1% additional annual return on a long time horizon.

I will admit I have the same intuitive issue you do, I had to do the math to convince myself: standard 401k vs Roth vs post-tax brokerage with taxed gains over 30 years

You can invest post tax in a Roth. With that you pay taxes upfront but then you don’t pay taxes on the gains you make.

Even if you are in the same tax bracket, your money grows tax free. That is worth a lot.

Exactly. Same with having multiple retirement accounts. Gains are the same

McK2, there is an addition in there (1 + r).

Roth and standard 401k are equivalent if you're in the same tax bracket, but if you're paying tax up front and on the gains as in a standard brokerage account you come out behind

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