


Is there a grace period if the plan sponsor ceases to satisfy the 100-employee limitation? You may only maintain a SIMPLE IRA plan on a calendar-year basis. Can I maintain my SIMPLE IRA plan on a fiscal-year basis? The effective date cannot be before you actually establish the plan. If you previously established a SIMPLE IRA plan, you must set up a new one effective on January 1. If you're a new employer that came into existence after October 1 of the year, you can establish the SIMPLE IRA plan as soon as administratively feasible after your business came into existence. You can set up a SIMPLE IRA plan effective on any date between January 1 and October 1, provided you (or any predecessor employer) didn't previously maintain a SIMPLE IRA plan. Is there a deadline to set up a SIMPLE IRA plan? The employee owns and controls the SIMPLE IRA.

You can set up SIMPLE IRAs with banks, insurance companies or other qualified financial institutions. Set up a SIMPLE IRA for each eligible employee using either IRS model:.

Provide each eligible employee with certain information about the SIMPLE IRA plan and SIMPLE IRA where you'll deposit employee contributions prior to the employee election period (generally, 60 days prior to January 1).IRS-approved prototype SIMPLE IRA plan offered by banks, insurance companies and other qualified financial institutions.Form 5304-SIMPLE PDF (if you permit each employee to choose the financial institution for receiving contributions).Form 5305-SIMPLE PDF (if you require all contributions to be deposited initially at a designated financial institution) or.Adopt a SIMPLE IRA plan document by signing one of these documents:.You must complete three basic steps to set up a SIMPLE IRA plan. If you have more than 100 employees and you're not in a grace period (see below) for your SIMPLE IRA plan, you must correct this mistake. For purposes of the 100-employee limitation, you must take into account all employees employed at any time during the calendar year, including those employees who have not met the plan's eligibility requirements (see Participation FAQs). Investments (same as IRA rules - see IRA FAQs)Įstablishing a SIMPLE IRA Plan Who can establish a SIMPLE IRA plan?Īny employer (including self-employed individuals, tax-exempt organizations and governmental entities) that had no more than 100 employees with $5,000 or more in compensation during the preceding calendar year (the "100-employee limitation") can establish a SIMPLE IRA plan.Reporting and notification requirements.Because these answers don't apply to every situation, yours may require additional research. These FAQs provide general information and shouldn't be cited as legal authority. See also IRS Publication 560, IRS Publication 590-A, IRS Publication 590-B and IRS Notice 98-4 PDF for detailed information on SIMPLE IRA plans and SIMPLE IRAs. Contributions are made to an Individual Retirement Account or Annuity (IRA) set up for each employee (a SIMPLE IRA).Ī SIMPLE IRA plan account is an IRA and follows the same investment, distribution and rollover rules as traditional IRAs. Employees may choose to make salary reduction contributions and the employer is required to make either matching or nonelective contributions. Information on this page may be affected by coronavirus relief for retirement plans and IRAs.Ī SIMPLE IRA plan provides small employers with a simplified method to contribute toward their employees' and their own retirement savings. COVID-19 Relief for Retirement Plans and IRAs
