Tag Archive for: 402(g)

Print Friendly Version Print Friendly Version

What’s My Limit? Contributions to both a 403(b) and a governmental 457(b) plan

/in /by

“One of my clients participates a 403(b) plan and a governmental 457(b) plan (through a state university). Her accountant is telling her that she, potentially, could contribute $41,000 of deferrals between the two plans for 2022.  How can that be so?”

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs, qualified retirement plans and other types of retirement savings plans, including nonqualified plans. We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business.

A recent call with a financial advisor from Illinois is representative of a common inquiry related to the maximum annual limit on employee salary deferrals.

Highlights of Discussion

Generally speaking, it may be possible for her to contribute more than one would expect given the plan types she has and based on existing plan contributions rules, which are covered in the following paragraphs. Your client should rely on her tax advisor in order to determine what amounts she can contribute to her employer-sponsored retirement plans because this is an important tax question that is best answered with the help of professionals.

For 2022, 457(b) contributions (consisting of employee salary deferrals and/or employer contributions combined) cannot exceed $20,500, plus catch-up contribution amounts ($6,500) if eligible [Treasury Regulation Section (Treas. Reg. §1.457-5)]. Since 2002, contributions to 457(b) plans no longer reduce the amount of deferrals to other salary deferral plans, such as 401(k) or 403(b) plans. A participant’s 457(b) contributions need only be combined with contributions to other 457(b) plans when applying the annual contribution limit. Therefore, contributions to a governmental 457(b) plan are not aggregated with deferrals an individual makes to other types of deferral plans.

Consequently, an individual who participates in both a governmental 457(b) plan and one or more other deferral-type plans, such as a 403(b), 401(k), salary reduction simplified employee pension plan, or savings incentive match plan for employees has two separate annual deferral limits. Here’s an example.

Example

For 2022, 32-year-old Toni is on the faculty at the local state university and participates in its 457(b) and 403(b) plans. Assuming adequate levels of compensation, Toni can defer up to $20,500 in her 403(b) plan, plus another $20,500 to her 457(b) plan—for a total of $41,000.

Also, keep in mind the various special catch-up contribution options depending on the type of plan outlined next.

 

403(b) 457(b)
15-Years of Service with Qualifying Entity Option:[1]

 

402(g) limit, plus the lesser of

 

1) $3,000 or

2) $15,000, reduced by the amount of additional elective deferrals made in prior years because of this rule, or

3) $5,000 times the number of the employee’s years of service for the organization, minus the total elective deferrals made for earlier years.

 

Age 50 or Over Option

 

Employees age 50 or over can make catch-up contributions of $6,500 beyond the basic 402(g) limit.

 

Note:  Must apply the 15-year option first

 Age 50 or Over Option

 

Employees age 50 or over can make catch-up contributions of $6,500 beyond the basic 457 deferral limit of $20,500.

 

Special “Last 3-Year” Option

 

In the three years before reaching the plan’s normal retirement age employees can contribute either:

•Twice the annual 457(b) limit (in 2022, $20,500 x 2 = $41,000),

 

Or

 

•The annual 457(b) limit, plus amounts allowed in prior years but not contributed.

 

Note:  If a governmental 457(b) allows both the age-50 catch-up and the 3-year catch-up, one or the other—but not both—can be used.

 

Another consideration when an individual participates in more than one plan is the annual additions limit under IRC Sec. 415(c),[2] which typically limits plan contributions (employer plus employee contributions for the person) for a limitation year [3] made on behalf of an individual to all plans maintained by the same employer. However, contributions to 457(b) plans are not included in a person’s annual additions (see 1.415(c)-1(a)(2).

 

Conclusion

Sometimes individuals who are lucky enough to participate in multiple employer-sponsored retirement plan types may be puzzled by what their maximum contribution limits are. This is especially true when a person participates in a 403(b) and 457(b) plan. That is why it is important to work with a financial and/or tax professional to help determine the optimal amount based on the participant’s unique situation.

[1] A public or private school, hospital, home health service agency, health and welfare service agency, church, or convention or association of churches (or associated organization) and it is allowed by the terms of the plan document

[2] For 2022, the limit is 100% of compensation up to $61,000 (or $67,500 for those > age 50).

[3] Generally, the calendar year, unless the plan specifies otherwise

© Copyright 2024 Retirement Learning Center, all rights reserved
retirement pension
Print Friendly Version Print Friendly Version

Participant in SIMPLE IRA and 401(k) with Separate Employers

/in /by

Deferral limit involving SIMPLE IRA and 401(k) plans

“I have a client—over age 50—who participates in a savings incentive match plan for employees (SIMPLE) IRA plan with one of his employers and a 401(k) plan with a separate employer. How much can my client defer into the SIMPLE IRA plan and 401(k) plan?”

ERISA consultants at the Retirement Learning Center Resource Desk regularly receive calls from financial advisors on a broad array of technical topics related to IRAs and qualified retirement plans. We bring Case of the Week to you to highlight the most relevant topics affecting your business.

Highlights of Discussion

  • To determine the answer to your question your client must look at his overall Internal Revenue Code Section (IRC §) 402(g) employee salary deferral limit and the rule that limits employee salary deferrals to the SIMPLE IRA plan under IRC § 408(p)(2)(A)(ii).
  • For each tax year IRC §402(g) limits an individual’s overall employee salary deferrals combined across all eligible plans (e.g., deferrals made to a SIMPLE IRA plan and 401(k) plan) to a set amount. For 2016 and 2017, a person’s 402(g) limit is 100 percent of compensation up to a maximum of $18,000 if he or she is under age 50, and is $24,000 if he or she is age 50 or greater and making catch-up contributions.
  • The maximum amount that a SIMPLE IRA plan participant may defer into the SIMPLE IRA plan is limited to 100 percent of compensation up to a maximum of $12,500 for 2016 and 2017 or, if he or she is age 50 and over, to $15,500 (which includes catch-up contributions of $3,000).
  • Therefore, your client, being over age 50, could choose to make employee salary deferral contributions to the SIMPLE IRA plan in any amount as long as he does not exceed 100 percent of compensation up to $15,500. He could defer the balance of his 402(g) limit up to 100 percent of compensation up to $24,000 to the 401(k) plan IRS Publication 560 and IRS Notice 98-4, Q&A C-3.

 

EXAMPLE

Seth, age 53, participates in a SIMPLE IRA plan with Employer A and a 401(k) plan with Employer B.  Based on his compensation he decides to defer $15,500 to his SIMPLE IRA plan ($3,000 of which is considered a catch-up contribution).  In order to stay within his 402(g) annual limit across all eligible plans in which he participates, Seth may only defer up to $8,500 to his 401(k) plan.  Note that Seth’s overall 402(g) limit of $24,000 could be allocated as he wishes between the two plans, as long as his deferrals do not exceed $15,500 to the SIMPLE IRA plan.

 

Conclusion

An individual who participates in a SIMPLE IRA plan and a 401(k) plan of a different employer must look at his or her overall 402(g) employee salary deferral limit and the rule that limits employee salary deferrals to the SIMPLE IRA plan in order to determine the amount that can be deferred into each plan.

© Copyright 2024 Retirement Learning Center, all rights reserved