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SBA 504 Loan Guide
2 min read

Can You Use a 401(k) as an SBA 504 Loan Down Payment?

Yes, you can use your 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment . Doing so offers some additional benefits, as well, including the fact that you will not incur tax penalties on the money that you pull from the fund for that purpose

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401(k)s and SBA 504 Down Payments: The Basics

Yes, you can use your 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment. Doing so offers some additional benefits, as well, including the fact that you will not incur tax penalties on the money that you pull from the fund for that purpose. 401(k) business financing, also called Rollovers for Business Startups, allows you to make a larger down payment than if you were using personal funds, and it also ensures that you have access to capital for a down payment regardless of your credit score.

However, you do need to meet a few requirements to make use of this option. First, you need to have a rollable retirement account – this could be your 401(k) account, but it could also be your IRA account, or a 403(b) account. Second, you need to have at least $50,000 in the account. You must also create a new C corporation, and then roll your funds into a new 401(k) plan within the new business. As soon as the funds appear in your C corporation bank account, you can use them for anything needed, including a 504 loan down payment.  

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Related Questions

What are the requirements for using a 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment?

In order to use a 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment, you need to meet a few requirements. First, you need to have a rollable retirement account – this could be your 401(k) account, but it could also be your IRA account, or a 403(b) account. Second, you need to have at least $50,000 in the account. You must also create a new C corporation, and then roll your funds into a new 401(k) plan within the new business. As soon as the funds appear in your C corporation bank account, you can use them for anything needed, including a 504 loan down payment.

Source: https://sba504.loans/sba-504-blog/can-you-use-a-401k-as-an-sba-504-loan-down-payment

In addition, you must be an “active employee” of your company (in any role), not simply a passive investor. The company itself must also be actively involved in a specific business, and cannot simply invest passively in another business or financial instrument.

Source: https://www.sba7a.loans/sba-7a-loans-small-business-blog/401k-as-sba-loan-down-payment

What are the advantages of using a 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment?

Using your 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment offers several advantages, including:

  • You will not incur tax penalties on the money that you pull from the fund for that purpose.
  • You can make a larger down payment than if you were using personal funds.
  • You have access to capital for a down payment regardless of your credit score.

For more information, please see Can You Use a 401(k) as an SBA 504 Loan Down Payment? and Can You Use a 401(k) as an SBA Loan Downpayment?.

What are the risks associated with using a 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment?

Using a 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment can be a great way to access capital for your business, but there are some risks associated with it. The most significant risk is that you are using your retirement funds, which means you are taking money away from your future retirement savings. Additionally, if you are not careful, you could be subject to tax penalties or other fees. Finally, if you are not able to make the loan payments, you could be putting your retirement savings at risk.

For more information, you can read this article from SBA504.loans, or this article from SBA7A.loans.

Are there any other options for financing an SBA 504 loan down payment?

Yes, you can borrow money for use as an SBA 504 loan down payment. However, you need to comply with some basic requirements in order to use borrowed money as a down payment. For instance, according to the SBA, “if the small business applicant can demonstrate repayment of this personal loan from sources other than the cash flow of the business, the cash injection may be considered equity. (Note: the salary of the business owner does not qualify.)”

So, you can borrow money to use as your 504 loan down payment, but repaying that loan must be done with a source of capital outside the business taking out the 504 loan. This could be another business that you own, a home equity loan combined with another job you work, a conventional loan repaid by money from your spouse’s job, and more. You’ll need to demonstrate to the SBA that you can repay the loan used as a down payment and that you can still afford the 504 loan.

What are the tax implications of using a 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment?

Using a 401(k) as an SBA 504 loan down payment can offer some additional benefits, including the fact that you will not incur tax penalties on the money that you pull from the fund for that purpose. However, you do need to meet a few requirements to make use of this option, including having a rollable retirement account with at least $50,000 in it, and creating a new C corporation.

When it comes to ROBS (Rollovers for Business Startups), the tax implications are that the funds used for the down payment are not subject to taxes or penalties. However, the company itself must be actively involved in a specific business, and cannot simply invest passively in another business or financial instrument.

In this article:
  1. 401(k)s and SBA 504 Down Payments: The Basics
  2. Related Questions
  3. Get Financing
Tags
  • SBA 504 Loan
  • SBA 504 Loans
  • SBA 504 Loan Down Payment
  • ROBS
  • Rollovers for Business Startups
  • 401(k) SBA Down Payment

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