Choosing Between a SEP and Simple IRA

Estimated reading time: 3 minutesWhen entering the world of entrepreneurs, there are important decisions to be made when talking about the steps to prepare for retirement, and what benefit plans for your employees are the most manageable and are the most effective in terms of cost. Large companies can offer plans where savings are encouraged, mostly seen in 401k plans. Companies can also stay competitive in the market by matching some contributions. However, if you work in a business where you are self-employed, a different strategy is needed in order to take full advantage of the compensation benefits. Small business owners can form two types of plans: SEP IRAs or A SIMPLE IRA.

Many similarities can be seen between both types of plans, but there are important differences that need to be recognized when making a decision about which one can benefit your company more. Both plans can be easy to establish, and both plans can be easy to keep in-tact, which is perfect for those owners of a small-business and might not have payroll or a department that can help look over employee packages that seem complicated.

A SIMPLE IRA gets most funding from contributions made by employees, but there is a contribution that is required to be made by employers. Some companies do not offer other qualified plans, in which the company would have eligibility to get this plan. For some companies, participation in this kind of plan would be the most beneficial, because then there is not one burden on one person. The employees get to decide what contribution is made. Even though employer’s are required to make a contribution, there can still be a choice made to cover the employer’s part, and there are two options. The employer can either fully match the first 3% of the compensation or make a contribution of 2% of every the employee’s compensation who is eligible.

Employers fund SEP IRAs. No funding requirements are required annually, which means that if the businesses has expenses that could be considered fluctuating, expenses have the option of being prioritized by the owner. A SEP IRA is available to a business with one or more employees. If you are more interested in making a greater amount of contributions to your retirement retirement, a SEP IRA plan is probably the best plan for you. You also have the option to make an IRA that is personal to you, while still having the SEP IRA. A person is given the ability to make contributions that are able to be fully deducted to the plan of the employee, which can be of benefit to the worker.

Regardless of the type of business you own, there can be benefits shown from both SIMPLE IRAs or SEP IRAs. Expenses will not only be deductible and can have the potential to lower the self-employment tax, but there will also be opportunity for a benefit of value to be provided, so that you have the chance to save up and contribute to your personal retirement.