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RESOURCE CENTER
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Retirement Plan Limits
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ERISA requires all qualified retirement plans to comply with limiting the amount of annual contributions
or benefits. See the chart and details below to learn more about how much can be funded to different types
of qualified retirement plans.
| Retirement Plan Limits |
| Limit |
2012
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2011
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2010
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2009
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2008
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| 401(k) Deferrals |
$17,000
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$16,500
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$16,500
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$16,500
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$15,500
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| 401(k) Catch-up Contributions |
$5,500
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$5,500
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$5,500
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$5,500
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$5,000
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| Defined Contribution Limit |
$50,000
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$49,000
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$49,000
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$49,000
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$46,000
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Defined Benefit
Limit |
$200,000
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$195,000
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$195,000
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$195,000
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$185,000
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| Compensation Limit |
$250,000
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$245,000
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$245,000
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$245,000
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$230,000
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| Highly Compensated Employees |
$115,000
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$110,000
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$110,000
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$110,000
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$105,000
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| 403(b) / 457 Deferrals |
$17,000
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$16,500
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$16,500
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$16,500
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$15,500
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| SIMPLE Deferrals |
$11,500
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$11,500
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$11,500
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$11,500
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$10,500
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| SIMPLE Catch-up Contributions |
$2,500
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$2,500
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$2,500
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$2,500
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$2,500
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| SEP Minimum Compensation |
$550
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$550
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$550
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$550
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$500
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| Social Security Wage Base |
$110,100
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$106,800
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$106,800
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$106,800
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$102,000
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Defined Contribution Plans
Defined Contribution Plans, such as profit sharing and 401(k) Plans, contain limits on the amount of annual
contributions that can be funded to the plan. These include both participant and plan-wide limits. In
determining contributions, employers must exclude salary above the annual Compensation Limit as shown in the chart above.
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Participant Limits
Participants in defined contribution plans are subject to several specific limits on how much can be allocated to their individual retirement accounts. These limits are indexed annually for inflation.
- Profit Sharing Plans – No participant can receive annual additions
(contributions and forfeitures) from a profit sharing plan in excess
of the IRC §415 Limit of 100% of Salary or $50,000.
- 401(k) Plans
– For 2012, no employee can defer more than $17,000 of his own
salary into a 401(k) Plan. In addition, no participant can exceed
the IRC §415 Limit of 100% of Salary or $50,000, when considering
all contributions (i.e., employee, employer matching, and profit
sharing). Highly Compensated Employees may also be limited in the
amount of salary deferrals and matching contributions, because of
the ADP and ACP Tests. Safe Harbor 401(k) Plans are not subject to
the ADP and ACP Test.
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Employer Limits
Employers are limited in the amount they can contribute to qualified plans. Employers may claim a tax deduction for contributions (either matching or profit sharing contributions) of up to 25% of eligible payroll. Employee Salary Deferral Contributions are not subject to this limit, and can be claimed as an additional tax deduction by the employer.
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Defined Benefit Plans
While defined benefit plans have a limit on the annual amount that participants receive at retirement age ($200,000 for 2012),
there is no statutory limit on the amount that can be funded to a defined benefit plan each year. Defined Benefit Plans are
required to fund an annual contribution in an amount to fully pay for all benefits accrued. This amount is calculated by an
actuary each year and depends on actuarial factors such as plan assets and asset growth, interest rates, employee ages and turnover,
and others. Defined benefit plans can allow much greater contributions than defined contribution plans.
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