I took out a loan against my plan and have missed some payments. What do I do?

When your loan was taken out you signed a promissory note that required you to make monthly payments. If those payments have not been made pursuant to the agreement then the loan is in default.

A loan that is in default is generally treated as a taxable distribution from the plan of the entire outstanding balance of the loan. You would then receive a 1099-R at the end of the year.

Your loan may allow for a “cure period” that would allow you to make up for a missed payments. It also may allow for suspended repayments for a leave of absence. But it may not extend the loan’s maximum repayment period.

So there may be two options at this point:

• You can leave the loan in default and it will be an assumed deemed distribution. In this case, a 1099-R will be issued at the end of the year and loan will be taxable; or
• The loan can be re-amortized over the remaining period. This cannot exceed 5 years.

Please see add’l IRS information at https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/401k-plan-fix-it-guide-participant-loans-do-not-conform-to-the-requirements-of-the-plan-document-and-irc-section-72p