How to calculate solo 401k profit sharing contribution

To take full advantage of contributions to a Solo 401(k) plan you must understand your limits as an employee and employer, as well as contributions allowed on behalf of a spouse if applicable.

When contributing as the employee, you are allowed up to $19,500 or 100% of compensation (whichever is less) in salary deferrals for tax year 2021 and $20,500 or 100% of compensation (whichever is less) for tax year 2022.  If you are over 50, an additional $6,500 catch-up contribution is allowed bringing the total contribution up to $26,000 for 2021 and $27,000 for 2022. This is the type of contribution that can be made as pre-tax/tax-deferred or Roth deferral or a combination of both. Additionally, as the employer, you can make a profit-sharing contribution up to 25% of your compensation from the business up to $58,000 for tax year 2021 and the maximum 2022 solo 401k contribution is $61,000. When adding the employee and employer contributions together for the year the maximum 2020 Solo 401(k) contribution limit is $57,000 and the maximum 2021 solo 401(k) contribution is $58,000. If you are age 50 and older and make catch-up contributions, the limit is increased by these catch-ups to $64,500 for 2021 and $67,500 for 2022.

Compensation from your business can be a bit tricky. This is calculated as your business net profit minus half of your self-employment tax and the employer plan contributions you made for yourself (and other business owners and any participating spouses who are also in your Solo 401(k) plan). The limit on compensation that can be factored into your tax year contribution is $290,000 for 2021 and $305,000 for 2022.

A Solo 401(k) can only be used by business owners who have no employees eligible to participate in the plan. You will set up your plan eligibility requirements in the Solo 401(k) plan documents used to establish your plan legally. The IRS has set limits on when employees must be included in your plan, so be sure to follow the rules. If an employee meets your plan eligibility, then you must include them and begin following certain testing and discrimination rules, which may require you to hire a benefits consulting or administration firm to help you. The one exception to the no-employee rule for a Solo 401(k) is for a spouse who earns income from your business. In 2021, your spouse can contribute up to $19,500 as an employee (plus the catch-up provision if 50 or older), and you can make the same percentage of employer contribution that you made for yourself (up to 25% of compensation). In 2022, this contribution limit is increased to $20,500 as an employee (plus the catch-up provision). This exception effectively allows you to double the amount you can contribute as a family.

As a self-employed individual, we have 2 roles - the business owner and the worker, the employer and the employee. The solo 401(k) can receive retirement contributions from both. Determining the size of those contributions can be a challenging process, but this calculator can help.

Solo 401(k) Contribution Calculator

Usage

Inputs:

Year: Your tax year.
Business Profit: Total self-employment income from all sources, minus business expenses.
Age: Are you 50-years-old or older? If so, you can make an additional catchup contribution.
Day Job?: Do you also have W2 employment? This check box enables additional day job related inputs.
Day Job Income: How much did you earn at your day job? (if applicable)
Day Job 401k: Did you contribute to your work 401(k) plan? If so, how much?
Day Job Catchup: Did you make a catchup contribution do your work 401(k) plan? How much?

Outputs:

Net earnings from self-employment: Calculated as Schedule C income minus the deduction for SE taxes. To see how this works, check out our Self-Employment Tax Calculator.
Elective deferral for Employee: The maximum amount you can contribute to your solo 401(k) as an employee.
Profit sharing from Employer: The maximum amount you can contribute as an employer.
Catchup max: If you are able to make a catchup contribution, this is the max.
After-tax Non-Roth max: The maximum after-tax contribution. This is used for planning the mega backdoor Roth.

Background

As a sole-proprietor (or owner of an LLC taxed as such) we are able to contribute to a solo 401k retirement account as both the employer and employee.

Limits apply:

  • Total contributions cannot exceed net earnings or the 415c limit ($56k in 2019).
  • Employee elective deferral contributions can be made to only one 401k account.
  • Employer contributions cannot exceed the lesser of 20% of net earnings or 1/2 the difference between net earnings and the employee contribution.
  • After-tax contributions can't exceed total compensation (defined as earnings after the employer contribution.)

Considerations

Contributions to a solo-401k can be made up until the filing date with deferrals (or as defined by plan documents), but the 401k must exist by Dec 31st of the tax year.

Employee contributions can be Traditional (pre-tax) or Roth (post-tax), but Employer contributions are always pre-tax.

Calculations are based on a 25% employer contribution / 20% of net earnings. In some instances this may not result in the largest after-tax non-Roth contribution.

Disclaimer: Always consult with a professional before taking action. This calculator may not produce accurate results in all scenarios, including those most important to you.

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How is 401k profit sharing contribution calculated?

You calculate each eligible employee's contribution by dividing the profit pool by the number of employees who are eligible for your company's 401(k) plan. Example: The company profit sharing pool is $10,000 and there are three eligible employees. Each employee would get $3,333, regardless of their salaries.

Can a solo 401k have profit sharing?

Additionally, as the employer, you can make a profit-sharing contribution up to 25% of your compensation from the business up to $58,000 for tax year 2021 and the maximum 2022 solo 401k contribution is $61,000.

Are Solo 401k profit sharing contributions tax deductible?

Employer contributions are made by the business and are also 100%. In addition, employer profit sharing contributions are tax deductible to the business but can be converted to Roth by the plan participant, if permitted by the plan, and would be subject to tax.

What is the maximum profit sharing contribution for 2022?

This limit increases to $73,500 for 2023; $67,500 for 2022; $64,500 for 2021; and $63,500 for 2020 if you include catch-up contributions.