Solo 401k Contribution Limits 2023 Over 50 and Retirement Plans

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If you're 50 or older and looking to maximize your retirement savings, you're in luck: solo 401k contribution limits for 2023 are generous.

As a solo 401k plan participant, you can contribute up to $20,500 in 2023, plus an additional $6,500 if you're 50 or older.

With a solo 401k, you can also make catch-up contributions, which can be a huge help in building your nest egg.

Solo 401k plans are designed for self-employed individuals and small business owners, and they offer a range of benefits, including flexibility and tax advantages.

What Is a Solo 401k?

A Solo 401k is a type of retirement plan designed for self-employed individuals and small business owners.

It's a great option for those who want to save for retirement and reduce their tax liability. The Solo 401k allows you to contribute a portion of your income to a tax-deferred retirement account.

You can contribute up to 20% of your net earnings from self-employment to a Solo 401k.

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This means if you earn $100,000 from your business, you can contribute up to $20,000 to your Solo 401k in a year.

The Solo 401k plan also allows you to make elective deferrals, which can increase your annual contribution limit.

In 2023, the elective deferral limit for Solo 401k plans is $22,500, and if you're 50 or older, you can make an additional $7,500 in catch-up contributions.

Limits

You can contribute up to $66,000 to a Solo 401(k) account in 2023, not including catch-up contributions for those 50 or older.

The salary deferral contribution limit is $22,500 in 2023, and it's the same for all Solo 401(k) plans you participate in, even if you have self-employment income from multiple sources.

If you're 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $7,500 to your Solo 401(k) account, making the total contribution limit $30,000 in 2023.

The maximum contribution limit is per individual, not per plan, so if you have multiple Solo 401(k) plans, the total contribution limit is still $22,500 in 2023.

You can contribute 100% of your earned income to your Solo 401(k) account, up to the maximum allowed amount of $22,500 in 2023.

The Solo 401 Contribution Calculator can help you compare your contribution limits across different types of retirement accounts, including Solo 401(k), SIMPLE, and SEP IRA.

Retirement Plan Basics

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A solo 401(k) is an individual retirement plan designed for business owners with no employees, and it's available to self-employed individuals who have full-time employees, though you can't contribute to a solo 401(k) if you have full-time employees.

The IRS rules allow you to use the plan to cover both you and your spouse, making it a great option for married couples.

The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 reduced taxes and amended the tax law to allow self-employed individuals to have a special 401(k) retirement plan similar to a Simple 401(k).

What Is a Plan?

A solo 401(k) plan is an individual 401(k) designed for a business owner with no employees.

You can't contribute to a solo 401(k) if you have full-time employees, but you can use the plan to cover both you and your spouse.

A solo 401(k) is a great option for business owners who want to save for retirement and also cover their spouse if they're also a business owner.

Basics

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A Solo 401(k) is a type of retirement plan designed for self-employed individuals and their spouses.

The Solo 401(k) is an improvement over other retirement plans like the SEP-IRA or self-directed IRA.

In 2001, the U.S Congress passed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA), which allowed self-employed individuals to have a special 401(k) retirement plan.

This plan mimics the traditional 401(k) plans enjoyed by many company employees who receive W-2 income.

The special 401(k) plan for self-employed individuals became commonly known as a Solo 401(k) or Solo 401(k).

It's a qualified self-employed small business owner can contribute both the employer's and employee's share to this type of 401(k) plan.

The Solo 401(k) plan allows you to contribute both the employer's (as profit sharing) and the employee's share to the plan for yourself and your spouse.

A solo 401(k) is an individual 401(k) designed for a business owner with no employees.

IRS rules say you can't contribute to a solo 401(k) if you have full-time employees, though you can use the plan to cover both you and your spouse.

Rollover

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Rollover is a great way to consolidate your retirement savings into a single plan. You can roll over amounts from another 401(k), governmental 457(b) plan, or 403(b) plan into your Solo 401(k).

There are no limits on the amount you can rollover or transfer. This means you can move as much as you want from one plan to another.

You can also roll over amounts from an IRA (other than a Roth IRA) into your Solo 401(k). This can be a smart move to simplify your retirement savings and potentially lower your fees.

Retirement Plan Options

A Solo 401(k) Plan is a type of retirement plan that can be beneficial for self-employed individuals and their spouses. This plan allows for contributions from both the employer's and employee's share, making it a great option for those who want to maximize their retirement savings.

One of the advantages of a Solo 401(k) is that it can be used for self-directed investing, giving you more control over your retirement funds. This can be a great option for those who want to invest in alternative assets, such as real estate or cryptocurrencies.

A Solo 401(k) Plan is also commonly known as a Self-Employed, Personal, Self-Directed, Individual, or one-participant 401(k). This type of plan can be very attractive when managing taxable income, making it a great option for those who want to reduce their tax liability.

Plan Eligibility and Entities

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To be eligible for a Solo 401(k) plan, you must have self-employment income from your business efforts, which can be full-time or part-time.

A Solo 401(k) plan participant may earn W-2 wages from self-employment, profit sharing, or IRS form 1099 income as an independent contractor. This means that even if you work for an employer, you can still qualify for a Solo 401(k) for your side hustle or freelance work.

Any business entity, including a sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), or closely-held corporation (C or S), can set up a Solo 401(k) plan.

Business Entities Eligible for Retirement Plans

A Solo 401(k) plan can be set up by a sole proprietor, a partnership, a Limited Liability Company LLC, or a closely-held corporation (C or S).

The business entity of a sole proprietorship or any other type will suffice as long as all business owners pay self-employment tax.

A self-employed business owner may adopt a Solo 401(k) plan, making it a viable option for entrepreneurs.

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A partnership can also adopt a Solo 401(k) plan, providing an opportunity for partners to save for retirement.

A Limited Liability Company LLC can set up a Solo 401(k) plan, giving its owners a flexible retirement savings option.

A closely-held corporation (C or S) can also adopt a Solo 401(k) plan, allowing its shareholders to contribute to a retirement plan.

In fact, any type of business may adopt a Solo 401(k) plan, including a Sub-chapter S corporation.

This means that business owners have various options when it comes to setting up a retirement plan.

S-Corp or C-Corp

Kyle, a 58-year-old business owner, earned $75,000 in W-2 wages from his S-corp.

His S-corp can contribute up to $18,750 in profit sharing contributions, totaling $44,750 in annual contributions, based on his W-2 compensation.

Kyle's profit sharing limit is based on his W-2 income, not his business's profits.

If Kyle's W-2 income were $275,000, his profit sharing contribution would be limited to $37,500 based on the aggregate limit.

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This total contribution would be $19,500 + $6,500 + $37,500 = $63,500.

Kyle's business can contribute more to his retirement plan if he has a C-corp, but that's a topic for another time.

Kyle's S-corp can still contribute $44,750 in annual contributions, even if his W-2 income were $275,000.

His profit sharing contribution would be limited to $37,500, but he could still make the $19,500 employee deferral and $6,500 catch up contribution.

Advantages of a Retirement Plan

A Solo 401(k) is a great option for self-employed individuals and small business owners. The Solo 401(k) allows for tax-deductible contributions, which can help reduce taxable income.

One of the biggest advantages of a Solo 401(k) is that it offers higher contribution limits than traditional IRAs. The contribution limits for a Solo 401(k) are typically higher than those for a traditional IRA.

By contributing to a Solo 401(k), you can potentially reduce your taxable income and lower your tax liability. This can be especially beneficial for self-employed individuals who may have a high income.

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The Solo 401(k) also allows for loan provisions, which can be a great benefit for business owners who need access to cash. You can borrow up to 50% of your Solo 401(k) account balance, up to a maximum of $50,000.

A Solo 401(k) can be a valuable tool for managing taxable income and saving for retirement. By taking advantage of the plan's benefits, you can potentially save thousands of dollars in taxes and build a more secure financial future.

Investments and Vesting

As a solo 401k plan owner over 50, you have the flexibility to invest your contributions in a variety of assets.

The solo 401k plan allows for investments in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Investing in a diversified portfolio can help you grow your retirement savings over time.

You can also use the plan's loan provision to borrow from your retirement account, but be aware that this may impact your vesting schedule.

Vesting refers to the amount of time it takes for your employer contributions to become fully yours, and in a solo 401k plan, this is typically 100% after one year.

Available Investments

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With a Solo 401(k), you have a wide range of investment options available to you.

Almost any type of investment is allowed, giving you more flexibility than a regular employee 401(k) plan.

Mutual funds are an option, but be aware that they may come with hefty management fees that can reduce performance over the long term.

Investment income can be lower if you're paying high fees, so it's essential to consider this when choosing your investments.

You can invest in almost any type of investment, as long as it doesn't involve a prohibited transaction with a disqualified person.

When Fully Vested?

For a standard 401(k) plan, the vesting schedule may take three to five years for the employee to benefit from the employer’s retirement plan contributions for highly compensated employees.

In some cases, this vesting schedule can be shortened, but for many people, it's a waiting game.

With a Solo 401(k) plan, the employer and employee are one and the same, which means immediate vesting up to the contribution limit.

This is a significant advantage for solo business owners, as they can enjoy 100% of their plan contributions right from the start.

Doyle Macejkovic-Becker

Copy Editor

Doyle Macejkovic-Becker is a meticulous and detail-oriented copy editor with a passion for refining written content. With a keen eye for grammar, syntax, and clarity, Doyle has honed their skills across a range of article categories, including Retirement Planning. Their expertise lies in distilling complex ideas into concise, engaging prose that resonates with readers.

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