If you own a business, retirement plans for self-employed is essential. Best of all, there is still time to reduce your 2018 tax bill with a tax-advantaged retirement plan! One of the best retirement plans for small business is a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP). Best of all, it can still be set up for 2018, and you can make contributions to it that you can deduct on your 2018 income tax return!

Contribution Deadlines

A SEP can be set up as late as the due date (including extensions) of your income tax return for the tax year for which the SEP is to first apply. That means you can establish a SEP for 2018 in 2019 as long as you do it before your 2018 return filing deadline. You have until the same deadline to make 2018 contributions and still claim a potentially substantial deduction on your 2018 return.

Generally, other types of retirement plans for self-employed would have to have been established by December 31, 2018, in order for 2018 contributions to be made. However, many of these plans do allow 2018 contributions to be made in 2019.

Discretionary Contributions

One of the many SEP tax benefits, is that you can decide how much to contribute each year. There is no obligation for you to make any certain minimum contributions annually.

But, if your business has employees other than you:

1. Contributions must be made for all eligible employees using the same percentage of compensation as for yourself.
2. Employee accounts must be immediately 100% vested.

The contributions go into SEP-IRAs established for each eligible employee.

For 2018, the maximum contribution for an SEP-IRA is 25% of compensation. Alternatively, 20% of self-employed income net of the self-employment tax deduction. SEP-IRAs are subject to a contribution cap of $55,000. The 2019 cap is $56,000.

Retirement Plans for Self-Employed: Next Steps

To set up a SEP, you just need to complete and sign the very simple Form 5305-SEP

Simplified Employee Pension — Individual Retirement Accounts Contribution Agreement.

You don’t need to file Form 5305-SEP with the IRS, but still keep it as part of your permanent tax records. Each employee receiving coverage from the SEP must receive a copy of Form 5305-SEP. In addition, each employee must will also need a disclosure statement.

There are additional rules and retirement plan limits that apply to SEPs beyond what we’ve discussed here. However, SEPs generally are much simpler to administer than other retirement plans. Let’s get together and discuss the best retirement plan for you and your future. We can address any questions you have about SEPs, and see whether it makes sense for you to set one up for 2018 (or 2019).