Compensation for a self-employed individual (sole proprietor, partner or corporate owner) is that person's 'earned income'* in the case of a sole proprietor or partnership and W-2 income if the business is a corporation. The starting point to determine the individual's earned income is the net profit amount from the Schedule C (or Schedule K-1 for a partnership). W-2 income would come from the business' payroll records.
Use this calculator to determine your maximum contribution amount for a Self-Employed 401(k), SIMPLE IRA and SEP. Do not use this calculator if the business employs additional eligible employees.
*Earned Income = Net Profit - 1/2 of Self-Employment Tax - Contribution
This illustration is an estimate that should only be used for informational purposes. The addition of any eligible employees can significantly alter these estimates. The exact contribution should only be determined by the company's tax or legal adviser.
Note: Only a SEP-IRA can be adopted after the end of the business fiscal year.
The maximum SEP allocation for 2021 is lesser of 25% of compensation or $58,000 with a compensation cap of $290,000.
The use of the calculators are provided for educational purposes only and is not meant as legal tax, estate planning or investment advice. Lord Abbett does not provide legal, tax or investment advice. The tax and estate planning information contained herein is general in nature, is provided for informational purposes only, is not individualized and is not intended to serve as the primary or sole basis for your investment or tax-planning decisions. Lord Abbett cannot guarantee that such information is accurate, complete, or timely. Laws of a particular state or laws which may be applicable to a particular situation may have an impact on the applicability, accuracy, or completeness of such information. Federal and state laws and regulations are complex and are subject to change. Changes in such laws and regulations may have a material impact on pre- and/or after-tax investment results. The results of these calculations are estimates based solely on user input and the assumptions of the calculator program. All examples are hypothetical and intended for illustrative purposes only. Lord Abbett makes no warranties with regard to such information or results obtained by its use. Lord Abbett disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or any tax position taken in reliance on, such information. Investment results do not represent the future performance of any Lord Abbett funds. You should consult with your legal or tax advisor before making any investment decision.
The information provided is not directed at any investor or category of investors and is provided solely as general information about Lord Abbett's products and services and to otherwise provide general investment education. None of the information provided should be regarded as a suggestion to engage in or refrain from any investment-related course of action as neither Lord Abbett nor its affiliates are undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, act as an impartial adviser, or give advice in a fiduciary capacity. If you are an individual retirement investor, contact your financial advisor or other fiduciary about whether any given investment idea, strategy, product or service may be appropriate for your circumstances.
I'm self-employed, how much can I contribute to a retirement plan?
Compensation for a self-employed individual (sole proprietor or partner) is that person's earned income.* The starting point to determine the individual's earned income is the net profit amount from the Schedule C (or Schedule K-1 for a partnership). Use this calculator to determine your maximum contribution amount for the different types of small business retirement plans, such as Individual(k), SIMPLE IRA or SEP-IRA. *Earned Income = Net Profit – 1/2 of Self-Employment Tax – Contribution
SEP IRA Contribution for a Sole Proprietor
The information provided below is very complicated. Sit recommends consulting a tax professional.
As a sole proprietor, you must calculate your net income and submit IRS Schedule C (“Profit or Loss from Business”) with your IRS Form 1040 (“U.S. Individual Income Tax Return”). Because your business’s net income will fall when you make a SEP IRA contribution for yourself, be sure to follow these 3 steps when calculating your SEP IRA contribution:
- First, determine your modified net business income (MNBI). Subtract one-half of your self-employment tax from your net income. This is your MNBI.
Net Income – (Self-Employment Tax ÷ 2) = Modified Net Business Income (MNBI)
- Second, determine your adjusted contribution rate. Take your contribution percentage rate and divide it by the sum of 100% plus your contribution rate. Mathematically, it looks like this:
contribution rate (%) = Adjusted
Contribution Rate (%)
100% + contribution rate (%)
- Third, determine the dollar amount of your SEP IRA contribution. Multiply your MNBI by the Adjusted Contribution Rate.
MNBI x Adjusted Contribution Rate = SEP IRA Contribution
Example
Lisa, a sole proprietor, files an IRS Schedule C and wants to give herself a 10% SEP IRA contribution.
The Calculation:
$100,000 | Lisa's net income (from IRS Schedule C) |
-$7,065 | One half of Lisa’s self-employment tax ($14,130 ÷ 2) |
=$92,935 | Modified Net Business Income (MNBI) |
X 9.0909% | Lisa’s Adjusted Contribution Rate (10% / (100%+10%)) |
=$8,449 | Lisa’s 10% SEP IRA contribution (deduction is taken on her IRS Form 1040) |
Check the Math:
$100,000 | Lisa's net income (from IRS Schedule C) |
-$7,065 | One half of Lisa’s self-employment tax ($14,130 ÷ 2) |
-$8,449 | Lisa’s SEP IRA contribution |
=$84,486 | Compensation amount subject to SEP IRA contribution rate |
X 10% | SEP IRA contribution rate |
=$8,449 | Lisa’s 10% SEP IRA contribution (deduction is taken on her IRS Form 1040) |
SEP IRA Contribution Calculation Worksheet for a Sole Proprietor
Desired Self-Employed Adjusted Contribution Rate
Contribution Rate | Adjusted Contribution Rate (%) | Adjusted Contribution Rate (Decimal) |
1% | 0.9901% | 0.009901 |
2% | 1.9608% | 0.019608 |
3% | 2.9126% | 0.029126 |
4% | 3.8462% | 0.038462 |
5% | 4.7619% | 0.047619 |
6% | 5.6604% | 0.056604 |
7% | 6.5421% | 0.065421 |
8% | 7.4074% | 0.074074 |
9% | 8.2569% | 0.082569 |
10% | 9.0909% | 0.090909 |
11% | 9.9099% | 0.099099 |
12% | 10.7143% | 0.107143 |
13% | 11.5044% | 0.115044 |
14% | 12.2807% | 0.122807 |
15% | 13.0435% | 0.130435 |
16% | 13.7931% | 0.137931 |
17% | 14.5299% | 0.145299 |
18% | 15.2542% | 0.152542 |
19% | 15.9664% | 0.159664 |
20% | 16.6667% | 0.166667 |
21% | 17.3554% | 0.173554 |
22% | 18.0328% | 0.180328 |
23% | 18.6992% | 0.186992 |
24% | 19.3548% | 0.193548 |
25% | 20% | 0.2 |