In most cases, your maximum allowable contribution amounts to just under 20% of your gross income. According to the instructions that accompany the form, the IRA established with Form 5305-SEP must be a traditional model IRA established on an IRS form or a traditional master or prototype IRA for which the IRS has issued a favorable opinion letter. Alternatively, you may consider a Self-Directed Gold IRA, which allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals. Lisa, a sole proprietor, files an IRS Annex C and wants to make a 10% contribution to the SEP to the IRA.
Despite how simple an SEP plan is described compared to other tax-deferred retirement plans, there are still complications when it comes to deciding the contribution percentage, whether to contribute in a given year, and other compliance requirements. As a sole proprietor, you must calculate your net income and file the IRS Schedule C (“Business Gains or Losses”) along with your IRS Form 1040 (“U”). Once an IRA has been established at a bank, insurance company, or other qualified financial institution, contributions can be made directly to the IRA account. Your contributions to your SEP plan (which is not a SARSEP) are not reduced by the contributions you or your employer make to your employer's SIMPLE IRA plan. When a sole proprietor calculates deductions for contributions to the SEP, the IRS notes that compensation is equivalent to net earnings from self-employment, which takes into account the deduction of half of the self-employment tax, as well as the deduction for contributions to the SEP-IRA.
Understanding the difference between a traditional and a Roth IRA can go a long way in planning your retirement savings strategy. Supplementing your 401 (k) plan or IRA with cash-value life insurance can help give you greater financial flexibility over your lifetime while providing protection for your loved ones. According to the Internal Revenue Service publication 560, Retirement Plans for Small Businesses, an IRA with SEP is simplified because it doesn't require establishing a profit sharing plan or buying money with a trust.
