i401k Contribution Calculator
Your Estimated i401k Contributions:
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An individual 401(k), often called a Solo 401(k) or Uni-K, is a powerful retirement savings plan designed specifically for self-employed individuals and small business owners with no full-time employees other than themselves or their spouse. It offers significantly higher contribution limits than other self-employed retirement plans like a SEP IRA, allowing you to save more for retirement while potentially reducing your taxable income.
Who Can Use an i401k?
The i401k is ideal for:
- Freelancers and independent contractors
- Sole proprietors
- Partnerships
- S-Corps and C-Corps where the only employees are the owner(s) and their spouse(s)
If you have full-time employees (other than yourself or your spouse), you generally cannot use an i401k and would need to consider a traditional 401(k) plan.
How i401k Contributions Work
The unique advantage of an i401k is that you can contribute to it in two capacities: as both an employee and an employer. This dual role allows for much higher contribution limits.
1. Employee Contributions
As an employee, you can contribute up to 100% of your net self-employment income, up to the annual IRS limit. For 2024, this limit is $23,000. If you are age 50 or older, you can also make an additional "catch-up" contribution, which is $7,500 for 2024, bringing your total employee contribution limit to $30,500.
2. Employer Contributions
As the employer, you can make a profit-sharing contribution to your i401k. This contribution is generally limited to 25% of your "net earnings from self-employment." The calculation for "net earnings from self-employment" for this purpose is complex, involving deductions for one-half of your self-employment taxes and the employer contributions themselves. However, for simplicity, the IRS allows self-employed individuals to calculate their employer contribution as 20% of their net business profit (before deducting one-half of self-employment taxes and any contributions for yourself).
Overall Contribution Limit
There's an overall limit to the combined employee and employer contributions you can make to your i401k each year. For 2024, this limit is $69,000. If you are age 50 or older and make catch-up contributions, this overall limit increases by the catch-up amount to $76,500.
How This Calculator Works
This calculator helps you estimate your maximum i401k contributions based on your net business profit and age, using the simplified 20% rule for employer contributions. It takes into account the current year's IRS limits for employee, catch-up, and overall contributions. Please note that these limits can change annually, so it's always good to verify the most current figures.
Important Note: The calculations provided by this tool are estimates based on common IRS guidelines for i401k plans. Your specific situation may involve additional factors or require a more precise calculation, especially regarding "net earnings from self-employment" for tax purposes. It is highly recommended to consult with a qualified financial advisor or tax professional to ensure compliance and optimize your retirement planning strategy.