|
Benefit or Feature |
SEP |
SIMPLE IRA |
SIMPLE 401(k) |
Qualified Retirement Plan |
|
Profit Sharing
(PS) |
PS w/401(k) |
Defined Benefit |
|
Maximum Participant Eligibility Conditions |
Any year earning $450 in 3 of prior 5 years
(2005 limit) |
$5,000 in 2 prior; $5,000 expected
in current year |
Age 21; 1 year of service
(1,000 hrs.)
|
Age 21; 2 years of service (1,000 hrs.)
|
Age 21; 1 year of service (1,000 hrs.)
for 401(k) only |
2 years of service (1,000 hours); Age 21 |
|
Maximum Elective Employee Contribution (IRC
§402(g)) |
Not Applicable |
Lesser of
100% of compensation or $10,000 (2005) |
Lesser of
100% of compensation or $10,000 (2005) |
Not Applicable |
Lesser of 100% of compensation or
$14,000 (2005) |
Not Applicable |
|
Catch-up (age 50+) |
None |
$2,000 (2005) |
$2,000 (2005) |
None |
$4,000 (2005) |
None |
|
Employer Match |
Not Applicable |
Required: 100% of 1st 3% (may reduce to 1% in 2 of 5
yrs) |
Required: 100% of 1st 3% (may
not reduce) |
Not Applicable |
May be fixed or discretionary |
Not Applicable |
|
Employer Contribution |
Discretionary |
Required: 2%
of Total Compensation |
Required: 2%
of Total Compensation |
Discretionary but may require Top-heavy minimum
contribution |
Discretionary but may require Top-heavy minimum
contribution |
Required contribution based on plan formula |
|
Employer Contribution Allocation or Benefit
Determination Methods |
Salary Proportionate; Integrated with S.S.
(not available with IRS Model SEP) |
Salary
Proportionate |
Salary Proportionate |
Salary Proportionate; Integrated w/S.S.; class or age-based |
Salary Proportionate; Integrated w/S.S.;
class or age-based |
Fixed Benefit;
Unit Benefit;
Class-based;
Cash Balance |
|
"Safe
Harbor" 401(k)
Automatic Pass of ADP/ACP Test |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
Required 100% vested 3% employer cont. or match
equal to 100% of 1st 3%, 50% of next 2% |
Not Applicable |
|
Maximum Vesting for Employer Contributions |
100% Immediate |
100% Immediate |
100% Immediate |
3/20 graded or 5 year
cliff |
Employer match:
2/20 graded or
3 year cliff |
3/20 graded or 5 year
cliff |
|
Withdrawals |
Penalty free after
age 59½ or Death |
Penalty free after
age 59½ or Death |
Penalty free after
age 59½ or Death |
Retirement, Death or Disability, In-Service, Hardship (may be subject to
add'l tax) |
Retirement, Death or Disability, In-Service, Hardship (may be subject to
add'l tax) |
Retirement, Death or Disability, In-Service, Hardship (may be subject to
add'l tax) |
|
Participant Loans |
Not Permitted |
Not Permitted |
Not Permitted |
Permitted within Limits |
Permitted within Limits |
Permitted within Limits |
|
Last Day of Plan Year Employment Condition |
Not Permitted |
Not Permitted |
Not Permitted |
Permitted but
subject to minimum coverage rules |
Permitted but subject to
minimum coverage rules |
Permitted but subject to minimum coverage rules |
|
Participant-Directed Investments |
Required |
Required |
Required |
Optional but
not required |
Optional but
not required |
Not Permitted |
|
Life Insurance as a Plan Investment |
Not Permitted |
Not Permitted |
Not Permitted |
Permitted |
Permitted |
Permitted |
|
Accepts transfer from qualified plan, IRA, SEP,
SIMPLE, 403(b), 457(b) |
Yes; SIMPLE IRA
25% penalty if distributed before 2 years |
From another
SIMPLE IRA only |
Yes; SIMPLE IRA
25% penalty if distributed before 2 years |
Yes; SIMPLE IRA
25% penalty if distributed before 2 years |
Yes; SIMPLE IRA
25% penalty if distributed before 2 years |
Yes; SIMPLE IRA
25% penalty if distributed before 2 years |
We intend the information in this publication as a general resource, not as legal or plan
design advice or counsel. Before you include or exclude any benefits or
features shown above in your plan, we suggest that you consult a tax or ERISA professional. Milberg Consulting LLC and Barry R. Milberg do not warrant and are not responsible for any errors and omissions from this
information.