As the owner of a small business, you may like to be able to offer your employees a retirement plan benefit, but cannot do so for several reasons. Cost is obviously a major concern, but the complexity involved in administering a defined contribution plan, such as a 401(k) plan, is another significant issue. However, the Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA is a lesser known retirement plan alternative that may allow you to help improve your employees’ retirement readiness. A SIMPLE IRA offers employers and employees several distinct benefits and are less costly and complex than other retirement plans. Here’s what you need to know about SIMPLE plans, how they operate, and what conditions an employer must meet in order to establish a SIMPLE IRA.

What It Is
It is a retirement savings plan targeted at employers with 100 or fewer employees who earn $5,000 or more in compensation. A SIMPLE IRA plan has less onerous reporting and administrative requirements than other retirement plans and, as such, they are an attractive option for employers with limited resources and personnel to handle benefit administration and compliance issues.

SIMPLE IRAs permit employees to make tax-deferred contributions through payroll deduction to traditional individual retirement accounts set up under the plan. In 2024, the contribution limit is $16,000 ($19,500 if age 50 or over). All account earnings are tax deferred until the plan participant begins withdrawals at retirement age. Withdrawals from a SIMPLE IRA are taxed at regular income tax rates.

SIMPLE IRAs are structured so that employee contributions go into an IRA set up under each employee’s name. That way, all money contributed to the IRA account becomes immediately vested. The employee can take the money along if he or she changes employers.

Employers are required to contribute annually to the plan either a matching contribution of up to 3% of pay or a 2% non-elective contribution for each eligible employee. Under the “non-elective” contribution formula, even if an eligible employee does not contribute to their SIMPLE IRA, that employee must still receive an employer contribution to their SIMPLE IRA equal to 2% of their compensation up to the annual limit of $330,000 for 2024.

Transfers and Withdrawals
Strict requirements apply to employee early withdrawals and transfers. Employee SIMPLE IRA accounts must be open for two years before the employee can move the money in the account or take it out. Employees who withdraw or transfer money in a SIMPLE IRA account that has been open for less than two years will face a 25% early withdrawal penalty on the amount transferred or withdrawn on top of federal income taxes.

Employer Requirements
Employers can establish a SIMPLE IRA once they meet the following requirements:

  • The plan is available to any small business, generally with fewer than 100 employees.
  • It can be established by adopting Form 5304-SIMPLE, Form 5305-SIMPLE, a SIMPLE IRA prototype, or an individually designed plan document.
  • The employer must not have any other retirement plan.
  • The employer must make contributions to the plan.
  • Employees must be permitted to make tax-deferred contributions to the plan.
  • The employee must be always 100% vested in the plan.

Plan Benefits

  • Employee contributions are tax deferred.
  • Employer contributions to employees’ SIMPLE IRAs are tax deductible.
  • Account earnings are tax deferred.
  • No annual filing requirement or discrimination testing is necessary.

Possible Disadvantages

  • Employer contributions are mandated.
  • No Roth contributions are permitted.
  • Full vesting is immediate (employee has ownership of all SIMPLE IRA money).
  • No loans are permitted.

If you are interested in exploring what type of retirement plan may be suitable for your business’s needs, be sure to reach out to your financial and tax professionals. They can be invaluable in helping you assess your retirement plan options.