Salary Reduction Contribution: Meaning, Limitations, FAQs

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What Is a Salary Reduction Contribution?

A salary reduction contribution is a contribution to a retirement savings plan, which generally represents a percentage of an employee's compensation. With some plans, salary reduction contributions (also known as elective deferral contributions) may also take the shape of a specific dollar amount contributed to an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b), or a SIMPLE IRA.

Typically, the saver or employee defers paying taxes on their contributions until they take distributions or withdrawals in retirement. As a result, the funds that have been saved grow in a tax-deferred manner.

Key Takeaways

• Salary reduction contributions represent a percentage of an employee's pay that's deducted and contributed to a retirement plan.
• Salary reduction contributions may apply to 401(k), 403(b), or SIMPLE IRA plans.
• The contributions are typically pre-tax, which reduces taxable income upfront, while distributions are taxed in retirement.
• The salary reduction contribution limit for SIMPLE IRAs is $16,000 in 2024 (up from 15,500 in 2023), and for 401(k)s is $23,000 in 2024 (up from $22,500 in 2023).
• Those who are 50 or over can make a catch-up contribution to their SIMPLE IRA of up to $3,500 and $7,500 to their 401(k) for 2023 and 2024.

Understanding a Salary Reduction Contribution

Salary reduction contributions allow employees to establish automatic, recurring deductions from their paychecks and contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement account. Salary reduction contributions are traditionally pre-tax, meaning the contribution amounts reduce the individual's taxable income in the year of the contribution.

In some cases, contributions can be made with after-tax dollars, as in the case of a Roth 401(k), which doesn't provide a tax deduction upfront, but the withdrawals or distributions are tax-free in retirement.

The employer will report contribution amounts using IRS Form W-2 at the end of each year. Employees will use this information to report their contributions to the IRS when completing their Form 1040.

Salary reduction contributions are typically a percentage of the employee's compensation or salary. However, some plans permit the employee to contribute a specific dollar amount for each pay period throughout the year.

Salary Reduction Contribution Limits

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets the annual limit on how much money can be contributed to a retirement plan. The annual employee contribution limit for a 401(k), 403(b), and Roth 401(k) for 2024 is $23,000 per year. This is an increase from $22,500 in 2023. The catch-up contribution limit of $7,500 is allowed for both years.

The maximum amount an employee may contribute to a SIMPLE IRA is $16,000 for 2024 (up from $15,500 in 2023), with a catch-up contribution limit of $3,500 for those who are 50 or over for both years.

The IRS also offers a salary reduction contribution-based plan called the Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SARSEP). Typically, small companies with fewer than 25 employees offer these plans. The plans allow them to make pre-tax contributions to their individual retirement accounts (IRAs) through salary reductions. Employees can contribute no more than 25% of their income each year or $23,000 in 2024 (up from $22,500 in 2023).

In accordance with the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, no new SARSEPS were allowed to be created after Jan. 1, 1997, but existing plans were allowed to remain in place.

Salary Reduction Contribution: After-Tax

Salary reduction contributions made with after-tax dollars must be declared in an employee's tax return as income. If a plan allows for after-tax contributions, such compensation is not excluded from income. Thus, an employee cannot deduct them on their tax return in the tax year of the contribution.

Do 401(k) Plans Reduce Wages?

Technically, yes. 401(k) plans reduce both adjusted gross income (AGI) and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). The plan allows individuals to defer a part of their salary, which qualifies as a tax deduction for that year. This only applies to a traditional 401(k) as it is funded with pre-tax dollars, not to a Roth 401(k), which is funded with after-tax dollars.

What Is the Difference Between SEP and SARSEP?

A SEP IRA is a retirement plan for small businesses that allows an employer to contribute to an employee's retirement account. The employee is not permitted to make any contribution. A SARSEP is a plan established before 1997 and allows both the employee and employer to make contributions.

What Is the 2023 Roth IRA Contribution Limit?

Individuals can contribute $6,500 to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA in 2023. The maximum increase to $7,000 for 2024. If you are 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000 for both years.

1. Internal Revenue Service. "401(k) Limit Increases to $23,000 for 2024, IRA Limit Rises to $7,000."
2. Internal Revenue Service. "How Much Salary Can You Defer if You’re Eligible for More than One Retirement Plan?"
3. Internal Revenue Service. "Roth Account in Your Retirement Plan."
4. Internal Revenue Service. "Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SARSEP)."
5. Internal Revenue Service. "2024 Limitations Adjusted as Provided in Section 415(d), etc.; Notice 2023-75." Page 1.
6. Internal Revenue Service. "SEP Contribution Limits (Including Grandfathered SARSEPs)."
7. Internal Revenue Service. "SARSEP Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension Plan for Small Businesses." Page 1.
8. Internal Revenue Service. "Retirement Topics - Contributions."
9. Internal Revenue Service. "401(k) Plans."
10. Internal Revenue Service. "Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP)."

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A Roth 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings account that is funded with after-tax money. As long as certain conditions are met, withdrawals in retirement are tax-free.

A 457 plan is a tax-advantaged retirement savings account available to many employees of governments and nonprofit organizations.

A 401(k) plan is a tax-advantaged retirement account offered by many employers. There are two basic types—traditional and Roth. Here’s how they work.

An additional voluntary contribution is a payment to a retirement savings account that exceeds the amount that the employer pays as a match.

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