Can you contribute to a 401K after age 72?
Sarah Duran
Published Mar 08, 2026
At age 72, a worker must begin taking required minimum distributions from their retirement accounts. Workers over 72 can still contribute to an IRA, a 401(k), and other retirement accounts, depending on specific circumstances.
Do I have to withdraw from my 401K at age 70 if I still working?
Yes, even if you continue working past age 72,* you have to take an RMD from your IRA. However, you may qualify for an exception from taking RMDs from your current employer-sponsored retirement account, such as a 401(k), 403(b), or small-business account, if: You’re still working.
How much money do I have to take out of my 401k at age 70?
Uniform lifetime table
| Age | Applicable divisor |
|---|---|
| 70 | 27.4 |
| 71 | 26.5 |
| 72 | 25.6 |
| 73 | 24.7 |
How old do you have to be to take money out of your 401k?
Your ability to take 401 (k) withdrawals while still working vary depending on your age, the company’s policies concerning its 401 (k) plans, and if you are still working for the company that provided the plan. The minimum retirement age for most 401 (k) withdrawals to avoid early withdrawal tax penalties is 59 1/2.
Can a 72 year old contribute to a 401k plan?
Some are offered 401 (k) plans by their employers. They wonder whether or not they should contribute to a 401 (k). Here’s one recent question from a reader: I am a 72 yrs old man, single, live alone, still working and hanging in there. I will start in a 401K plan with my employer.
What happens if you work past your full retirement age?
After age 70, there is no additional increase for waiting to claim your Social Security payments. However, if you decide to sign up for Social Security benefits before your full retirement age while you are still working, part or all of your payments could be temporarily withheld.
Can a person still contribute to a 401k if they are still working?
Regardless of age, if you are still working you can continue to contribute to a 401 (k). What’s more, as long as you own less than 5% of the business you are working for, you are not required to take RMDs from a 401 (k) at that employer. 5 Roth 401 (k)
