Previous Page: Publication 560 - Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE and Qualified Plans) - How Much Can I Contribute? Next Page: Publication 560 - Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE and Qualified Plans) - Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension (SARSEP) Use   to find additional occurrences of topic items.

taxmap/pubs/p560-004.htm#TXMP47f8d55f Deducting Contributions(p7)

Deducting Contributions

Generally, you can deduct the contributions you make each year to each employee's SEP-IRA. If you are self-employed, you can deduct the contributions you make each year to your own SEP-IRA.

taxmap/pubs/p560-004.htm#TXMP3ac49908 Deduction Limit for  Contributions for Participants(p7)

Contributions (IRAs & Pension Plans)

The most you can deduct for your contributions (other than elective deferrals) for participants is the lesser of the following amounts.

1. Your contributions (including any excess contributions carryover).
2. 25% of the compensation (limited to $225,000 per participant) paid to the participants during 2007 from the business that has the plan, not to exceed $45,000 per participant.

In 2008, the $225,000 and $45,000 amounts in (2) above increase to $230,000 and $46,000.

Compensation in (2) above includes elective deferrals (explained, later, under Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension (SARSEP)). Elective deferrals are no longer subject to this deduction limit. However, the combined deduction for a participant's elective deferrals and other SEP contributions cannot exceed $45,000 ($46,000 for 2008). Your SEP document may limit contributions to lower amounts because of elective deferrals.

taxmap/pubs/p560-004.htm#TXMP72c5a33e Deduction Limit for  Self-Employed Individuals(p7)

Deduction Limit for Self-Employed Individuals

If you contribute to your own SEP-IRA, you must make a special computation to figure your maximum deduction for these contributions. When figuring the deduction for contributions made to your own SEP-IRA, compensation is your net earnings from self-employment (defined in chapter 1), which takes into account both the following deductions.

• The deduction for one-half of your self-employment tax.
• The deduction for contributions to your own SEP-IRA.

The deduction for contributions to your own SEP-IRA and your net earnings depend on each other. For this reason, you determine the deduction for contributions to your own SEP-IRA indirectly by reducing the contribution rate called for in your plan. To do this, use the Rate Table for Self-Employed or the Rate Worksheet for Self-Employed, whichever is appropriate for your plan's contribution rate, in chapter 5. Then figure your maximum deduction by using the Deduction Worksheet for Self-Employed in chapter 5.

taxmap/pubs/p560-004.htm#TXMP643aaac7 Carryover of  Excess SEP Contributions(p7)

Carryover of Excess SEP Contributions

If you made SEP contributions that are more than the deduction limit (nondeductible contributions), you can carry over and deduct the difference in later years. However, the carryover, when combined with the contribution for the later year, is subject to the deduction limit for that year. If you also contributed to a defined benefit plan or defined contribution plan, see Carryover of Excess Contributions under Employer Deduction in chapter 4 for the carryover limit.

taxmap/pubs/p560-004.htm#TXMP49275206 Excise tax.(p7)

If you made nondeductible (excess) contributions to a SEP, you may be subject to a 10% excise tax. For information about the excise tax, see Excise Tax for Nondeductible (Excess) Contributions under Employer Deduction in chapter 4.

taxmap/pubs/p560-004.htm#TXMP7fc8459a When To Deduct Contributions(p7)

Contributions (IRAs & Pension Plans)

When you can deduct contributions made for a year depends on the tax year on which the SEP is maintained.

• If the SEP is maintained on a calendar year basis, you deduct the yearly contributions on your tax return for the year within which the calendar year ends.
• If you file your tax return and maintain the SEP using a fiscal year or short tax year, you deduct contributions made for a year on your tax return for that year.

taxmap/pubs/p560-004.htm#TXMP64d9b82c
Example.(p7)

You are a fiscal year taxpayer whose tax year ends June 30. You maintain a SEP on a calendar year basis. You deduct SEP contributions made for calendar year 2007 on your tax return for your tax year ending June 30, 2008.

taxmap/pubs/p560-004.htm#TXMP3e385072 Where To Deduct Contributions(p7)

Contributions (IRAs & Pension Plans)

Deduct the contributions you make for your common-law employees on your tax return. For example, sole proprietors deduct them on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business, or Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming; partnerships deduct them on Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income; and corporations deduct them on Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, or Form 1120S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation.

Sole proprietors and partners deduct contributions for themselves on line 28 of Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. (If you are a partner, contributions for yourself are shown on the Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., you get from the partnership.)

Previous Page:  Publication 560 - Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE and Qualified Plans) - How Much Can I Contribute? Next Page:  Publication 560 - Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE and Qualified Plans) - Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension (SARSEP) Use   to find additional occurrences of topic items.