zpostcode
403(b) plan
Nov 17, 2025 1:01 AM

  

403(b) plan1

  A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred, employer-sponsored retirement savings plan available to public schools and other tax-exempt organizations. It allows educators, government employees, and nonprofit employees to make pretax contributions up to a certain limit.

  These 403(b) plans are tax advantaged, meaning that plan holders contribute funds that grow tax free until withdrawals are made. Contributions are usually made by taking deductions from the employee’s payroll. Some employers may offer a Roth option, where contributions are taxed up front and plan holders can withdraw money tax free in the future.

  Withdrawals made before age 59 1/2 are, with some exceptions, subject to a 10% penalty. In general, 403(b) plans are available for employees of nonprofit organizations, which include (but are not limited to):

  Eligible employees of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizationsPublic school employeesEligible employees of churchesMinisters (whether self-employed or working for tax-exempt organizations)Plan holders can make investments without having to worry about paying capital gains taxes along the way. Unlike with 401(k) plans, 403(b) plan assets can be invested in annuities or mutual funds, but not in individual stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs), or exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

  Holders of 403(b) plans must pay certain administrative fees that can make the plans expensive to use. And as with other retirement plans, participants over age 50 can make extra “catch-up” contributions.

  Timothy Lake

Comments
Welcome to zpostcode comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Recommend >
20 Buildings Not to Miss in Australia
      From the Rose Seidler House and Mooloomba House to the Sydney Opera House, these 20 buildings are examples of some of Australia’s most architecturally and historically important structures.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Mark Irving (2016). Writers’ names appear in...
19 Significant Buildings Worth Seeing in Denmark
      Denmark spreads over a peninsula and an archipelago of more than 400 islands. Its architectural landscape is just as varied as the land it occupies.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Mark Irving (2016). Writers’ names appear in parentheses.   Høpfner A/S...
13 Buildings That Tell Berlin’s Story
      The history of Berlin is a long one, filled with triumphs and tragedies. These 13 buildings span centuries and capture, in microcosm, the city’s unique progression through time and arrival in the present.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Mark Irving (2016)....
11 Iconic Buildings in Brazil
      Brazil is a very large country: it fills half of South America and is larger, in area, than the continental United States. That means it has a rich and vast architectural heritage. Here are just 11 of its most iconic buildings.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must...
Information Recommendation
19 Essential Italian Churches
  Italy’s rich architectural heritage includes thousands of churches built across two millennia. Here are 19 of the most notable ones.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these churches first appeared in 1001 Amazing Places You Must See Before You Die, edited by Richard Cavendish (2016). Writers’ names appear in parentheses.   Basilica of San Vitale      basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna,...
11 Must
     None Mexico City was founded in 1521, on the ruins of Tenochtitlán. It is a densely populated city surrounded on three sides by mountains, and at its heart is a gargantuan public square with a long history. These 11 buildings capture the dynamic spirit of Mexico City’s past and present.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first...
12 Revolutionary Buildings to Visit in Vienna
      Vienna has been the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and the empire known as Austria-Hungary. After World War II, it was occupied by multiple countries’ forces. History courses through its streets, as evidenced by these 12 buildings, but revolution does too. Each of these buildings performs its own type of rebellion.   Earlier versions of the descriptions...
13 Buildings You Should Visit When You’re in Tokyo
     topimages/Shutterstock,com Tokyo was once known as Edo, which began as a fishing village many centuries ago. Edo became Tokyo (”Eastern Capital”) in the 19th century, when it became Japan’s capital. This list highlights just a few of the many significant buildings in Tokyo.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See...
14 Buildings That Lay Bare Scotland’s Soul
      “I am a Scotsman,” Sir Walter Scott once wrote; “therefore I had to fight my way into the world.” This list explains how these 14 buildings fought their way onto Scottish soil.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Mark Irving (2016). Writers’ names...
19 Historic Buildings to Visit in Rome
      The term historic may be understated for a city that can trace its origins, as a continuous settlement, to the first millennium BCE. Nearly everything about Rome might be considered historic. This list merely skims the surface of the buildings worth seeing in Italy’s national capital.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in...
19 Places That Exemplify Cool Swiss Style
      Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die, edited by Mark Irving (2016). Writers’ names appear in parentheses.   Valerio Olgiati’s redesign of a 19th-century building in Flims constitutes a radical transformation of its character. Placed directly by the curving roadside, the Yellow House enjoys...
26 Historic Buildings to Visit the Next Time You’re in Paris
      Corbis Paris is known today as the City of Lights. Thousands of years ago it was called Midwater-Dwelling—which is how its Latin name, Lutetia, can be translated. This list covers just a few of the most notable structures built in Paris over all of these years.   Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001...