Employees enrolled in a Gusto 401(k) or an integrated 401(k) plan with Betterment, Human Interest, or Vestwell can view their plan's high-level details right from Gusto.
To make changes, view your balances in more detail, and more, sign in to your provider's website.
A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan that lets eligible employees save and invest part of their paycheck. These contributions are deducted from an employee's gross pay and put into a 401(k) account.
The maximum contribution an employee can make to a 401(k) or Roth 401(k) in elective deferrals is based on age:
Under 50: The elective deferral limit is $24,500 in 2026 ($23,500 in 2025).
50-59 or 64 and older: They may make an additional catch-up contribution of $8,000 in 2026 ($7,500 in 2025).
60 to 63: They may make a special catch-up contribution of $11,250 in 2025 and 2026.
Note: These limits are for employee elective deferrals only. The total contribution limit for a 401(k) plan, which includes both employee and employer contributions, is set by the IRS. This is different from the individual deferral limits. For the most current total contribution limits, check the IRS website or talk to your plan administrator.
Roth catch-up contributions for high earners (Section 603 of Secure Act 2.0)
For employees 50 and older who earned over $145,000 in 2025: Starting in 2026, catch-up contributions must be made as Roth (after-tax). Learn more about mandatory Roth catch-up contributions.
A Roth 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan where eligible employees make after-tax contributions from their paycheck. This means contributions are made with money that has already been taxed — federal and state income taxes are applied to your gross pay before the Roth 401(k) deduction is considered. If the deduction is based on a percentage, it's typically calculated on your gross pay, and that amount is then deducted from your net pay.
A key benefit of a Roth 401(k) is that qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free.
In some plans, the employer may also contribute by matching up to a certain percentage of the employee's contribution. Employer matching contributions are always made on a pre-tax basis, even if your personal contributions are to a Roth.
Custodian: The financial institution holding the 401(k) funds. Plan participant: An employee enrolled in the 401(k) plan. Plan sponsor: The employer (company) that establishes and maintains the 401(k) plan. While there may be a designated administrator, the employer is the plan sponsor with ultimate responsibility.
Enroll in your company's 401(k)
Once you're eligible to participate in your company's 401(k), your 401(k) provider will let you know when you can enroll. Your company may have a waiting period before you can participate—ask your employer if you have questions.
View your 401(k) plan details
If you're enrolled in a Gusto 401(k) or an integrated 401(k) plan with Betterment, Human Interest, or Vestwell, you can view your plan's high-level details right from Gusto. To make changes or view your balances in more detail, sign in to your provider's website.
To view your 401(k) plan details in Gusto:
Go to Benefits.
Under Savings & Philanthropy, click 401(k).
If your employer offers a 401(k) and you do not see it, you may not be eligible to enroll yet. If you no longer see 401(k) deductions on your pay stubs, you may have already met the IRS annual contribution limit. Sign in to your 401(k) provider's website to view more details.
View each tab of your dashboard for information about your 401(k) plan.
For more info about your plan, contact your 401(k) provider.
Change your 401(k) contribution
Any changes must be made directly on your 401(k) provider's website—check out the steps to change your contribution based on your provider below. Contact your provider for more information.
If your 401(k) is not listed in Gusto or on your paystub, this may be because:
Your plan may not have started yet—check your provider's online account to confirm the start date.
You may not be eligible yet, per your plan's eligibility requirements. Ask your employer when you'll be eligible to participate.
Your company may have run payroll before your enrollment or deduction change was processed.
A traditional 401(k) is a pre-tax deduction. If gross pay was too low or tax withholdings too high, net pay after taxes might have been $0, leaving no funds for your 401(k) deduction.
Reimbursements (e.g., for expenses) are not considered wages and are not eligible for 401(k) deductions.
You may have reached the IRS annual contribution limit.
If you have taken out a loan from your 401(k), your repayment may be collected through payroll deductions (check the terms of your loan to confirm). These deductions are generally taken on an after-tax basis.
For more help, sign in to your 401(k) provider's website or call them directly.