uncle get his money up front — if you take a payout the tax man get his the same time you get your payment!!!!

You can roll it into an IRA and wait until retirement age and take it or you can take a distribution in cash. If you do so, make sure it happens BEFORE you move back to Indonesia as once you get that foreign address they are required to withhold 30%; instead of normal 20%.

Check with your 401(k) plan administrator. Basically, the plan probably will hold the money for you or allow you to transfer the funds to a traditional IRA. You can also withdraw the money, but you will have to pay state and federal income taxes and a 10% penalty. The latter is the costliest of your choices.

Nothing happens to your 401(k)… it will still be there waiting for your retirement. If you cash it out, you’ll have to pay taxes and penalties though.

If you cash in your 401k without rolling it into another retirement plan you will be penalized. The only way to avoid that is to leave it where it is until you retire.

Just transfer it to an IRA, it will be here waiting for you when you reach retirement.