Rules and Limits to Open a SEP IRA

Time to SEP it up!

Are you a self-employed business owner that is looking for a cost effective to lower your taxes and help you save for retirement?

If that fits your profile then opening a SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) IRA might be a good retirement account to start for your business.

When I was researching what would be the best retirement plan to set up for myself when I first became self-employed, I narrowed it down between the SEP IRA and the Solo 401k.

Both allowed very favorable contribution limits, but the administrative costs and ease of setting up made the SEP IRA the easy answer.  If you are considering opening a SEP IRA for your business, here’s what you need to know about the SEP IRA rules and contribution limits and how easy it is to open one.

SEP IRA’s Have Tax Deferred Compounding

Just as a traditional IRA or 401k, your contributions are pre-tax and can significantly lower your taxable income.

You contribute pre-tax dollars to a SEP IRA, and that has the effect of lowering your tax bill. The money in the IRA grows tax-deferred, and your business doesn’t pay any taxes on the IRA earnings. The assets can be invested in many ways.

The traditional IRA rules apply. When you take the money out of a SEP IRA for retirement, you pay ordinary income taxes on it. (Should you withdraw SEP IRA assets before age 59½, you’ll likely be assessed a penalty, with some exceptions.)

SEP IRA Contributions are Discretionary.

One huge bonus for business owners is that you are not required to contribute to a SEP IRA each year.  In addition, there is not a set amount that you have to put in.  This flexibility is priceless for a business owner that has fluctuating net income year after year.

Also, you are not subject to the typical IRA deadline to contribute: April 15th.  If you file a tax extension, you can wait until then to make the contribution.

How Much Can you Contribute to a SEP IRA?

In 2011, you can contribute up to 25% of an eligible employee’s compensation, up to a limit of $49,000. No catch-up contributions are permitted for older employees.  Based on the 25% rule the income threshold is $196,000.  Over an above that you will not be able to contribute any more.  That’s when you might want to consider some other business retirement plans.

What Makes Employees Eligible for a SEP IRA?

If you have employees, then provided they pass a series of test, you will have to contribute the same percentage to them- just based on their salary- not yours. Generally, employees of a small business are eligible for a SEP IRA if they

If you have employees that have ties to a union contract, they may be excluded from having to make contributions.

Opening a SEP IRA is Easy Breezey.

Opening a SEP IRA is just as easy opening a regular investment account. You can open up one of these plans with the help of almost any financial advisor or financial institution.

In fact, you can even have other retirement plans at your business in addition to SEP IRAs, and you can set up a SEP IRA for your small business even if you are already participate in another retirement plan at another company.

So if you have a small business or work on your own and you want a retirement plan that works for your future without a lot of hassles, talk to a financial professional to see if a SEP IRA is right retirement account  for you to open today.

photo credit: khowaga1

Tagged as: Business Retirement Plan, Open a Sep IRA, SEP IRA rules and Limits, Solo 401k