What is a SIMPLE?

There are many types of employer-sponsored retirement plans. One that may appeal to small businesses and to self-employed individuals is the savings incentive match plan for employees (SIMPLE) because, as the name implies, it is easy to set up and administer, and employers are allowed to take a tax deduction for the contributions that are made.

SIMPLEs can be established by small businesses that have 100 or fewer employees (who were paid at least $5,000 or more in compensation during the previous year) and do not maintain other retirement plans. They can be structured as an IRA for each eligible individual or as part of a qualified cash or deferred arrangement such as a 401(k) plan. Typically, they are structured as SIMPLE IRAs.

Eligible employees (those who earned at least $5,000 in any two preceding years and are expected to earn at least that amount this calendar year) can make pre-tax contributions to their plans each year. Participants may contribute 100% of their salaries up to $17,000 in 2026. Those who are 50 to 59 or 64 or older during the year can elect to make $4,000 in catch-up contributions; for those who reach age 60 to 63 in 2026, the catch-up contribution limit is $5,250.

Employers maintaining SIMPLE IRA plans are generally required to make either dollar-for-dollar matching contributions equal to employee contributions (up to 3% of an employee’s salary) or nonelective contributions, which set a flat 2% contribution rate for each eligible employee. Employees are immediately 100% vested in contributions made by the employer, and they generally direct their own investments.

Employers with no more than 25 employees may allow their employees to contribute $18,100; $21,950 if age 50 to 59 or 64 or older; or $23,350 if age 60 to 63. Employers with 26 to 100 employees may allow these higher limits as long as they provide either a 4% match or a 3% nonelective contribution.

These amounts are indexed annually for inflation. SIMPLE 401(k) plans may also allow employees to make Roth contributions.

In addition, in 2026, employers may make additional non-elective contributions to all employees of up to 10% of compensation or $5,300, whichever is less.

Distribution rules are similar to most IRA plans. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and are also subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty if withdrawn prior age 59½, unless an exception applies. Required minimum distributions also must generally begin after the participant reaches age 73 (75 for those who reach age 73 after December 31, 2032).

An additional rule for SIMPLE IRA plans is that there is a two-year waiting period after the date when an employee enrolls in the plan to transfer contributions to another IRA on a tax-deferred basis. Any withdrawals taken during the first two years of an employee’s participation in the plan are subject to a 25% tax penalty in addition to ordinary income taxes. After the first two years, early withdrawals are generally subject to the 10% early-withdrawal penalty prior to age 59½. Of course, the IRS sometimes allows exceptions under special circumstances.

SIMPLE IRAs may be a good choice for small-business owners because the responsibility for funding the plan is shared between the employer and the employee. The start-up and maintenance costs also may be lower than for other qualified plans. If you are considering whether to establish a retirement plan for your business, you may want to make it SIMPLE.

Grow your company, fund your future: A dual-track approach to business success and retirement planning. At Salt Financial, we can strategize with you to accomplish both. Reach out to us to start your plan.

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