If you are self-employed or have a small business, the idea of a 401k may make you jump to two conclusions: “My company is too small” and “I can’t afford it.” Well, you’re not … and you can!
A Solo 401k is inexpensive to set up and easy to maintain – and it delivers substantial tax and saving advantages. Use a Solo 401k Plan if you’re self-employed or run an owner-only business. You could add multiple owners and spouse to a Solo 401k Plan, but if you add full time employees to your business, you’ll need to convert to a more traditional plan.
Solo Benefits, Duo Roles
One benefit of a Solo 401k is that you assume the role of both employer and employee, which allows you to contribute up to $50,000 ($55,500 if you age 50 or older) of your annual income, tax-deferred, for 2012. Contributing the highest amount may lead you into a more advantageous tax bracket that accelerates the time to retirement – another benefit!
High Solo 401k Contribution Limit, tax advantages and penalty-free loans make the nominal price for a Solo 401k a wise financial move if you want to differ more of your income than the traditional IRA limit of $5,000 a year.
Up to now, many entrepreneurs have used traditional IRAs to save for retirement – a strategy which offers lower contribution limits and includes the risk of penalties incurred on owners who accessed funds before reaching retirement age. The Solo 401k presents more flexibility than about any retirement account, including IRAs.
Let’s compare 401k with Traditional IRA:
401(k) |
Traditional IRA |
|
Limit Per Individual |
$50,000 |
$5,000 |
Catch-up Contribution (Age 50+) |
$5,500 |
$1,000 |
Income Limit on Roth |
None |
$125,000* |
Tax-free, penalty free access |
Yes, loan |
No |
* Amount you can contribute starts phasing out at $110,000 and not allowed if making $125,000 or more.
How to Save $10,000 in Taxes in 2012
Let’s look at the example how sole-proprietor younger than 50 years old, can max out his retirement savings and lower taxes for 2012:
Earnings | $165,000 |
Employee Contribution | $17,000 |
Profit Sharing (20% of net self-empl.) | $33,000 |
Total Savings | $50,000 |
Taxable Income | $115,000 |
While the owner earned $165,000 in 2012, only $115,000 is IRS taxable. Assuming an adjusted gross income tax rate of 20 percent, that’s $10,000 he can keep for himself (instead of paying Uncle Sam). What’s more, the savings are likely to be even greater because his tax bracket will probably drop. For example, the married filed joint return 2012 tax rate increases from 25% to 28% for income over $142,700.
Solo 401k Contribution Deadline:
While business owners will have until their tax deadline to contribute to their 401k accounts, IRS requires their plans to be set up by December 31 to qualify. Many providers have deadlines well before the 31st, so setting up sooner rather than later is the smart option.
Majority of businesses likely have until April 15, 2013 to make the contributions for 2012. However if company was established as a corporation, the deadline moves back to March 15. But don’t despair: by setting up a plan by the end of the year, you will have time to determine the optimal amount to best manage your tax and retirement savings.
One final tip: If Solo 401k Loan and Roth Solo 401k options are important to your investment strategy, be sure to use a provider who offers a full-featured, totally self-directed Solo 401k plans such as Sense Financial. Some providers offer an individual 401 k plan with administrative services and few investment options from the array of investments they support. Such plans are not truly self-directed, limit your investment options, not allowing you to invest in non-traditional investments such as real estate and probably will lack Roth sub-account and loan feature of the plan.
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