Retirement Savings

Deferred Compensation can:

• Reduce your current income taxes
• Save for your retirement
• Accumulate investment earnings on a tax deferred basis

More Info
Deferred Compensation

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Enhance Your Retirement

Deferred compensation is an enhancement to retirement benefits allowing you to save money for your retirement today and defer income taxes on those savings until you withdraw from your account. It reduces your taxes each pay period through income deferral and provides future benefits for retirement. (Sometimes, it is referred to as a “457 Plan” since deferred compensation plans are permitted and administered under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code.)
A Great Way to Save! 
Deferred compensation gives you a significant tax break:
  • Contributions to your deferred compensation account are taken from your gross salary before federal withholding taxes are calculated.
  • Your deferred compensation contributions do not affect your reported earnings for retirement purposes
  • Social Security taxes are not affected by deferred compensation contributions
  • Your contributions are invested in the investment program of your choice offered by the provider you select
Without a deferred compensation plan:
  • You pay taxes on income before you set any aside for savings or investments
  • You have less money to save or invest after taxes are taken out
  • With a deferred compensation plan, your contributions are made on a pre-tax basis
  • You can contribute more money to your savings/investment plan
You pay no income taxes on your contributions or investment earnings until you withdraw from the plan, allowing earnings to grow on a tax-deferred basis. 

For example, if you are in the 28 percent tax bracket, contribute $100 per month to your deferred compensation account, and earn 8 percent interest, this account would be worth $58,902 after 20 years. In the same tax bracket, still earning 8 percent interest, but in a savings account, if you contributed $100 each month, the savings account would be worth only $44,913 after the same 20 years.

When you withdraw money from the account (there are restrictions on when you may withdraw prior to retirement without penalty), you pay taxes on the amount you withdraw; you will most likely be in a lower tax bracket at that time and will likely pay less in taxes than you would have today.
Deferred compensation has both unique restrictions and unique flexibility.  For more information, contact the account representative for the plan.

NEW  Employer Match for 2024

​Great News! The County will continue to match employees' contributions in 2024. Employees contributing to any of the County's 457 plans are eligible for a $2,600 match. You can start your 457 plan anytime, and the amount you contribute per paycheck in 2024 will be matched up to $2,600. ​The maximum contribution to a 457 is regulated by the IRS and includes the County match portion.

Normal and Catch-Up Contributions

For 2024, the normal deferral amount allowed is $23,000; if over age 50, there is a Catch-Up amount allowed of $7,500 for a total contribution of $30,500.

Additionally, if you are nearing retirement, IRS Code allows you to make up for contributions not deferred in previous years of employment. You can “catch up” for three consecutive calendar years prior to the calendar year of your declared normal retirement age. The total amount you can catch up is determined by subtracting what you have contributed from the maximum allowed by law. The maximum amount you can defer in a single year is a combination of your regular deferral for that year and any amounts allowed but not contributed since 1979. Each calendar year’s maximum, set by the IRS, differs and is subject to change. 
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Be sure you understand that:
  • Deferred compensation is a voluntary program.
  • Deferred compensation funds are subject to IRS regulations.
  • There are strict IRS restrictions on withdrawals prior to retirement.
  • Benefit-eligible employees can begin or stop contributions to a deferred compensation account at any time.
  • Due to the SECURE Act, you must begin receiving benefit payments (IRS-Mandated Required Minimum Distributions or RMDS) at age 72 for anyone who turns 70 1/2 after December 31, 2019.  If you turned 70 1/2 before 2019, you must continue to take your Required Minimum Distribution by the end of each calendar year.
Providers and additional plan information are available from Employee Benefit Services at 954-357-6700 or email at benefits@broward.org.