SEP IRA retirement plan lets business owners make pre-tax contributions for themselves and eligible employees. Here’s how your business can benefit.
SEP IRA retirement plan lets business owners make pre-tax contributions for themselves and eligible employees. Here’s how your business can benefit
Choosing a retirement plan
As a small business owner, you want to choose the right type of retirement plan for your business , while also making sure it’s the right choice for your employees. While the process of selecting a retirement plan can be confusing or expensive, consider if a SEP IRA meets your needs.
SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension) is a retirement plan based on an individual retirement account (IRA) into which business owners can make pre-tax contributions for both themselves and their eligible employees.
Most employers are eligible to establish SEP plans, and are most common among sole-proprietors. SEP IRAs are typically easy to establish, require little tax paperwork, low administrative cost, no initial setup, and no annual maintenance fees. Here’s a few ways your small business could benefit from SEP IRAs.
High yearly maximum contribution limit
SEP IRA plans have a high yearly maximum contribution limit. You can usually contribute more to the SEP IRA than a traditional IRA or Roth IRA depending on income limits. It’s best to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any contributions. Check out this breakdown of Retirement Plan Contribution Limits for a basic overview of contribution limits.
| Tax Year | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Contribution Limit - 219(b)(5)(A) - Under Age 50 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| IRA Catch-Up Contribution Limit - 219(b)(5)(B) - Age 50 or Over | 7,000 | 7,000 | 7,000 |
| SIMPLE IRA Maximum Contributions - 408(p)(2)(E) - Under Age 50 | 13,500 | 13,500 | 13,000 |
| SIMPLE IRA Maximum Catch-Up Contribution - 414(v)(2)(B)(ii) Age 50 or Over | 16,500 | 16,500 | 16,000 |
| Coverdell ESA Contribution Limit * | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| Employer Defined Contribution Limit - 415(c)(1)(A) | 58,000 | 57,000 | 56,000 |
| Elective Deferral Limit - 402(g)(1) | 19,500 | 19,500 | 19,000 |
| Elective Deferral Catch-Up Limit - 414(v)(2)(B)(i) | 26,000 | 26,000 | 25,000 |
| Annual Compensation Cap - 401(a)(17)/404(I) | 290,000 | 285,000 | 280,000 |
| SEP Minimum Compensation - 408(k)(2)(C) | 650 | 600 | 600 |
| SEP Maximum Compensation - 408(k)(3)(C)6. | 290,000 | 285,000 | 280,000 |
| 457 Elective Deferrals - 457(e)(15) | 19,500 | 19,500 | 19,000 |
| Defined Benefit Limit - 415(b)(1)(A) | 230,000 | 230,000 | 225,000 |
| Highly Compensated Employee (HCE) - 414(q)(1)(B) | 130,000 | 130,000 | 125,000 |
| Key Employee - 416(i)(1)(A)(i) | 185,000 | 185,000 | 180,000 |
| Taxable Wage Base | 142,800 | 137,700 | 132,900 |
Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 2021.pdf
Tax-deferred growth
Account earnings can grow tax-deferred until withdrawn. Similar to a traditional IRA or 401(k), contributions to a SEP IRA are not taxed in the year contributed. Because of this, the money can compound tax-deferred for a longer amount of time.
Contributions made by the employer are tax-deductible
The contributions you make within the limits are deductible on your business’s tax return. You can reduce your taxes on the contributions you make to your employees’ SEP IRA accounts since they are tax-deductible.
Flexible funding
With a SEP IRA, you are not required to make yearly contributions. Contributions can vary from year to year, or forego if needed. This can give you flexibility to contribute more when business is stronger, and pull back if you need to conserve.
Employee incentive
The SEP IRA plan is designed to allow you to make discretionary contributions to an employee’s IRA. Every participant has immediate and complete ownership of the money contributed by you. Employees are responsible for choosing his or her investments inside the account, and you don’t need to set up a schedule for vesting or track service requirements.
For your employees, SEP IRAs can have many benefits.
As the employer, you must have a SEP Plan established in order for your employees to participate. This plan you establish may require employees to meet any or all of these requirements before receiving employer contributions.
Here’s some information about participant and employee participation.
-
Age requirement –
you may require employees to attain age 21 prior to participating. -
Service –
you may require an employee to work three out of the immediately preceding five years (for any period of time, however short) -
Compensation –
employees earning less than $600 in compensation may be excluded. -
Class of Employees –
employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement and non-resident aliens with no U.S. income from the employer may be excluded.
Some of the benefits for employees of a SEP IRA plan include:
-
Tax-Deferred Earnings –
Earnings generated on contributions to a SEP IRA are tax-deferred. The earnings are not reported to the IRA and account owners do not include earnings in the account on their tax return. -
Tax Deduction –
The IRS encourages account owners to make an IRA contribution by offering a tax deduction to certain individuals. The ability to qualify for a tax deduction depends on your filing status, Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and if they participate in a retirement plan at work. -
Tax Credit –
Some IRA holders may qualify for a tax credit. Participants should consult with an experienced tax adviser for further information.
As always, we’re here to help you. To learn more about the SEP IRA solution and see if it’s a fit for your business, contact us!
Sources:
LPL Financial
How Small Business Owners Can Benefit From SEP IRA, SD Retirement Plans
Features and Benefits of Sep IRAs and Roth IRAs, Investopedia
SEP IRA withdrawals before age 59 ½ are subject to a 10% federal penalty tax (certain exceptions may apply). Ordinary income tax will be owed on any taxable distributions.
The information provided in these articles is intended for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as the opinion of Central Bancompany, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and does not imply endorsement or support of any of the mentioned information, products, services, or providers. All information presented is without any representation, guaranty, or warranty regarding the accuracy, relevance, or completeness of the information.
Category: Investing
