Solo 401k Contribution Limits

With a Solo 401k plan, the business owner is seen as the employee and employer of the business. Therefore, his or her Solo 401k contribution limits include both salary deferrals and profit sharing contribution. 

Use the Solo 401k Contribution Calculator to determine your contribution limit this year:

Salary Deferral

As the only employee of the business, the plan participant can make salary deferral contributions of up to $20,500 a year (plus additional $6,500 catch up for a total of $27,000 for those over 50 years old).

Profit-Sharing

As the employer, the plan participant can also make profit-sharing contributions of 20 to 25% of business compensation, depending on the type of business.

SEP IRA vs. Solo 401k Contribution Limits

With a Solo 401k account, the business owner is seen as the employee and employer of the business. Therefore, his or her Solo 401k contribution limits include both salary deferrals and profit sharing contribution. 

Use the Solo 401k Contribution Calculator link located above to determine your contribution limit this year.

Consider the case of Tom, a 52-year-old owner of a corporation without any employees. Tom’s business earns him $100,000 a year.

With either a SEP IRA or a Solo 401k, Tom is allowed to make profit sharing contributions up to $25,000. With a Solo 401k, however, he is allowed to put an additional $27,000 into the Solo 401k as a salary deferral including catch up. A SEP IRA, on the other hand, does not allow any salary deferrals or catch up contributions.

  SEP IRA SOLO 401k
Maximum Limit $61,000 $67,500
Profit Sharing
(25% of compensation)
$25,000 $25,000
Salary Deferral $20,500
Catch-Up Contribution $6,500
Actual Limit $25,000 $52,000

Salary Deferral Contributions

In 2002, the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) took effect and created a whole new incentive for owner-only businesses to set up Solo 401k plans. Previously, the Solo 401k was not much different from a profit-sharing plan or SEP IRA. Since the EGTRRA became effective, Solo 401k plans have been gaining popularity due to their generous contribution limits.

With a Solo 401k account, the business owner is seen as the employee and employer of the business. Therefore, his or her Solo 401k contribution limits include both salary deferrals and profit sharing contribution. The total Solo 401k contribution is limited to $61,000 in 2022.

Use the Solo 401k Contribution Calculator link located above to determine your contribution limit this year.

Solo 401k Contributions: The Largest Tax Benefits Allowed by the Tax Code

Tony Watson, a tax consultant at Robert Hall & Associate, explains how investors can save thousands of dollars in taxes by contributing to a Solo 401k.

Profit Sharing Contributions

As an employer, the business owner can make profit sharing contributions of up to 25% of the owner’s compensation.

  • If the business is a sole proprietorship or a single member LLC: The plan can receive up to 20% of the participant’s self-employment compensation.
  • If the business is a corporation: Solo 401k contribution limits allow profit sharing contributions of up to 25% of the total self-employment compensation.

The Total Solo 401k Contribution Limit

With a Solo 401k account, the business owner is seen as the employee and employer of the business. Therefore, his or her Solo 401k contribution limits include both salary deferrals and profit sharing contribution. The total Solo 401k contribution is limited to $61,000 in 2022.

Use the Solo 401k Contribution Calculator link located above to determine your contribution limit this year.

“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.”

Proverbs 21:20

Alternate investment options you get with a Self Directed Solo 401k:

Real Estate

Precious Metals

Private Business

Stock & Funds

Private Lending

Tax Deeds/Liens

Financial Concepts that Make Sense!

Greater Flexibility. Investment Freedom. Hassle-Free Management.

Our expert team is always ready to answer you! Give us a call at (949) 228-9394. You can email us at contact@sensefinancial.com

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