Definition
A Small Business Owner 401(k) ( SBO 401(k) ), is a 401(k) plan established by a businesses for which only owners are the business are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan.
Brand names for these plans include Individual-K, Solo-K and Uni-K Plans
An SBO 401(k) can be adopted if the only eligible participants are the business owners and their spouses.
An SBO 401(k) is a 401(k) plan, for which the adoption agreement and plan document has been modified to exclude nondiscrimination and top heavy testing requirements that applies to a traditional 401(k) plan. Brand names used by financial institutions to distinguish SBO 401(k) plans from traditional 401(k) plans include Individual(k) Plan, Uni(k) Plan and Solo(k) Plan.
Once non-owner employees are eligible to participate in the plan, the employer is no longer eligible for the SBO-K
SBO- K are often preferred over SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and profit Sharing plans because the contribution limit is higher , depending on the individual’s income for the year and age ( for the year)
SBO-K contributions are comprised of the following:
- Salary deferral of 100-% of compensation/income, up to the salary deferral limit in effect for the year, and
- Profit sharing contribution of 25% of W-2 wages or 20% of modified net profit
Either one type (or both types) may be contributed to the plan for any year that the plan is maintained.
The aggregate contributions should not exceed the annual addition limit in effect for the year. Individuals who are at least age 50 by the end of the year may make additional catch-up contributions
Referring Cite
IRC § 401(k),
Additional Helpful Information
- A SBO-401(k) plan can be adopted by sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations.
- Form 5500 series return need not be filed for a SBO 401(k), unless the plan balance is more than $250,000
- Brand names for these plans include Individual-K, Solo-K and Uni-K Plans
