Question 1

How long does a Voya to Vanguard 401(k) rollover take?

Accepted Answer

Voya uses a paper-based transfer process (14-21 business days (paper-based)), while Vanguard supports ACATS. Despite Vanguard's ACATS capability, the outbound process is controlled by Voya, so expect 14-21 business days (paper-based) from the date you submit your rollover form.

Question 2

Do I call Voya or Vanguard first to start the rollover?

Accepted Answer

Call Voya first at 1-800-584-6001 to request the rollover form and confirm the direct-rollover process. Once you have the form, call Vanguard to confirm they accept incoming rollovers from Voya and get any required receiving documentation.

Question 3

Will I owe taxes when rolling over from Voya to Vanguard?

Accepted Answer

A direct trustee-to-trustee rollover from a traditional 401(k) to a traditional IRA or new 401(k) is NOT a taxable event — provided funds move custodian-to-custodian and are never paid to you personally. No federal or state income tax, no 10% early-withdrawal penalty. If you're rolling into a Roth IRA (conversion), the pre-tax balance does become taxable income for the year of conversion — that's a deliberate tax election, not a mistake. Request "direct rollover" language explicitly with Voya so the 1099-R is coded Box 7 = G (direct rollover) rather than Box 7 = 1 or 2 (distribution), which would incorrectly trigger withholding and IRS scrutiny.

Question 4

Does Voya charge a fee to roll over my 401(k)?

Accepted Answer

Most employer 401(k) plans administered by Voya do not charge an outbound rollover fee, but some employer plan documents do include a distribution or processing fee ($25–$75 is common). Check your Summary Plan Description (the document your former employer sent when you joined the plan) — the fee schedule is in there — or ask the Voya rep when you call (1-800-584-6001). Voya may also liquidate any holdings that can't transfer in-kind before sending, so you could face a brief period out of the market during the transfer.

Question 5

What's the 60-day rule for a Voya to Vanguard rollover?

Accepted Answer

If you received a check made out to you (an indirect rollover), you have exactly 60 calendar days from the date of distribution to deposit the full gross amount — including the 20% the custodian withheld — into a qualifying retirement account. If you initiate a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer instead (the recommended path), the 60-day clock does not apply because you never receive the funds personally. For direct transfers, initiate immediately — Voya's processing time is 14-21 business days (paper-based), which can consume a significant portion of your window if you wait.

Question 6

Can I roll my Voya 401(k) into a Vanguard IRA directly?

Accepted Answer

Yes — a direct rollover from a Voya 401(k) to a Vanguard traditional IRA is fully legal under IRC §402(c). Vanguard supports ACATS, so the cleanest path is to open the IRA at Vanguard first, then have Vanguard initiate an ACATS pull from Voya. The one exception: if your Voya 401(k) contains employer stock with significant appreciation, review Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) tax treatment with a CPA before rolling — NUA elections must be made at the time of distribution and cannot be undone.

Field	Voya	Vanguard
ACATS eligibility	Paper-based transfers only — typical processing 10–14 business days	ACATS (electronic) eligible — typical processing 3–5 business days
Processing time	14-21 business days (paper-based)	5-7 business days (ACATS); 2-3 weeks for paper
Transfer form	Distribution / Rollover Election (plan-specific)	Move money in — Direct rollover (online wizard)
Customer-service phone	1-800-584-6001	1-800-523-1188 (Personal Investor) / 1-800-523-1036 (Small Business 401(k))
Customer-service hours	Mon-Fri 8am-9pm ET	Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET

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