Solo 401(k) plan

If you are a self-employed individual or a business owner with no employees other than a spouse, you may qualify to establish a Solo 401k plan (also known as an individual 401k, self-employed 401k, or single participant 401k.) You can qualify if your business is organized as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation (including both subchapter S and C corporations). The Solo 401k plan was enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA).

As a qualified plan, employee salary deferrals and employer contributions are made with pre-tax earnings, and invested funds are tax-deferred until they are withdrawn. Beginning in 2006, Solo 401k plans were permitted to offer designated Roth accounts which could accept designated Roth contributions. Designated Roth contributions are made with after-tax money and withdrawals are generally tax free.

As with all qualified plans, withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 (age 55 if you are terminated) are subject to a 10% penalty tax, and required minimum distributions must begin at age 70 1/2 for retired individuals.

Contribution limits
A Solo 401k contribution consists of two parts, an employee salary deferral contribution and an employer profit sharing contribution. In 2012 the maximum allowable salary deferral contribution is $17,000 (not to exceed 100% of pay and no more than $250,000 of pay can be taken into account). If one is age 50 or older one can make a maximum $5,500 catch up contribution. Depending on how the business is organized, 25% of employee salary or 20% of business earnings can be used for employer contributions. In 2012 the combined employee and employer maximum contribution limit is $50,000 or $55,500 if the employee is age 50 or older. Both salary deferrals and profit sharing contributions are discretionary, so contribution levels can be adjusted to the fluctuations of business income.

Solo 401k Contribution Calculation - for an S or C corporation or an LLC taxed as a corporation


 * Employee Salary Deferral Contribution: In 2012, 100% of compensation up to the maximum of $17,000 or $22,500 if age 50 or older can be contributed to an Individual 401k.
 * Employer Profit Sharing Contribution: A profit sharing contribution up to 25% of compensation can be contributed into an Individual 401k.

Solo 401k Contribution Calculation - for a sole proprietorship, partnership or an LLC taxed as a sole proprietorship
 * Employee Salary Deferral Contribution: These business organizations do not provide a W-2 salary to the business owner. The employee salary deferral contribution is calculated by taking gross self-employment income and then subtracting business expenses and then subtracting 1/2 of the self-employment tax (this is termed net adjusted business profit). In 2012, 100% of net adjusted business profits income up to the maximum of $17,000 (or $22,500 if age 50 or older) can be contributed as employee salary deferrals into an Individual 401k.
 * Employer Profit Sharing Contribution: An employer profit sharing contribution can be made up to 20% of net adjusted businesses profit. Net adjusted business profit is calculated by taking gross self-employment income and then subtracting business expenses and then subtracting 1/2 of the self-employment tax.

Loan provisions
Not all Solo 401k plans allow loans.

If the Solo 401k plan document has a loan provision you can take a loan from the plan. Loans are limited up to 50% of the total 401k value up to a maximum of $50,000. Generally, Solo 401k loans have a 5-year maximum repayment term although loans used for the purchase of a primary residence may extend the loan repayment term up to 10-15 years. Loans must be repaid according to the terms of the loan amortization schedule which is provided when a loan is initiated.

Generally, the loan interest rate charged is the Prime Rate or Prime plus 1% or 2%. The interest rate depends on the Solo 401k provider. Failure to pay the loan according to the loan terms can trigger taxes and early withdrawal penalties, since the IRS deems the unpaid loan as an early distribution from the retirement account.

Account rollovers
Not all Solo 401k plans accept incoming rollovers.

If the Solo 401k plan document accepts rollovers, money can be transferred into the Solo 401k plan from traditional IRA, SEP, Qualified Plans or  Keoghs (Profit Sharing, Money Purchase Pension, Defined Benefit), 401k, 403-b and governmental 457 plans. SIMPLE IRAs are eligible for rollover after a two year holding period is met. A "traditional" Solo 401k plan can be rolled over to another "traditional" 401k plan and into Traditional IRA and rollover IRAs. Designated Roth accounts in a Solo 401k plan can be rolled over to another 401k plan with designated Roth accounts or to a Roth IRA.

Designated Roth accounts
Not all plans allow designated Roth accounts. If the plan document allows designated Roth accounts, you can make after-tax contributions to the designated Roth accounts in the Solo 401k plan and take tax free distributions of contributions and qualified earnings. Keep in mind the following features of designated Roth accounts in a Solo 401k plan:
 * The income limitations for contributing to a Roth IRA do not apply to making designated Roth contributions to a Solo 401k plan. The designated Roth accounts in a Solo 401k make it possible for high income self-employed individuals to make Roth contributions.
 * Unlike a Roth IRA, the designated Roth accounts in a Solo 401k are subject to required minimum distributions at age 70 1/2. This rule can be mitigated by executing a trustee-to-trustee rollover to a Roth IRA upon retirement.
 * The designated Roth account is forbidden from taking employer contributions. The employer contributions must be made to the pre-tax Solo 401k account.
 * Ordering rules for Roth IRA distributions do not apply to designated Roth accounts. Any distribution from the account is prorated according to the proportion of account basis and earnings in the account.
 * Withdrawals of earnings from a designated Roth account are subject to a penalty tax if they are taken prior to age 59 1/2 and if the account has not passed a five-year holding period. The five-year holding period does not carry over to a Roth IRA rollover. A rollover to a first time Roth IRA begins the holding period for the rollover. A rollover into an existing Roth IRA will receive the tenure of the existing IRA.

Solo 401(k) advantages
Individuals who qualify for the Individual 401k have the following advantages:
 * The potential to shelter more earnings in the the Solo 401k than in a SEP or SIMPLE IRA.
 * The Solo 401k can allow for loan provisions.
 * The Solo 401k can provide a Designated Roth 401k account.

Solo 401(k) caveats
Individuals considering a Solo 401k should keep in mind the following:
 * Complexity and Costs: Although a Solo 401k plan is much simpler and less expensive than most standard 401k plans, costs and administrative burdens are critical factors to consider. The addition of plan options, such as loan provisions and designated Roth options may increase plan costs. Individuals will usually bear the following administrative tasks with the Solo 401k plan:
 * You must maintain accurate records, including beneficiary files for plan participants, and submit all required reports and notices to participants, the IRS (including 5500-EZ reporting), and the Department of Labor.
 * You must determine when employees are entitled to benefits under the plan.
 * You must instruct the investment custodian regarding plan contributions and distributions.
 * Potential Solo 401k participants come from two basic groups: individual owners of businesses, and business employees who have outside consulting contracts or freelance earnings that are reported on IRS schedule C returns. These individuals may be contributing to their company's 401k plan. The annual employee contribution limits apply to all 401k plans, so if you are maxing out your employer plan you can only make employer contributions to a Solo 401k plan.
 * If your business is likely to expand and require the addition of employees, the Solo 401k plan must become a full fledged standard 401k plan or be terminated.

You may find this Solo 401k FAQ to be helpful.

Solo 401(k) offerings
Currently a growing number of investment firms are offering Solo 401k plans to self-employed individuals.
 * Fidelity
 * Schwab
 * T. Rowe Price
 * Vanguard
 * 401kbrokers.com