When did 401Ks start?

The 401(k) retirement savings plan was created as part of the Revenue Act of 1978, which was signed into law on May 4, 1978. However, it didn't become widely used until the early 1980s after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued regulations clarifying its tax advantages. The first 401(k) plans were introduced in 1981, allowing employees to save for retirement with tax-deferred contributions.