Terminating a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA

With extensive experience as an electrical/software/coding engineer along with having a diverse financial background, Thomas Wettermann’s areas of interest include Machine Learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and Financial Technology (FinTech). For the past few years, Thomas Wettermann has focused on the underlying technologies that support and promote all phases of cryptocurrency, Web 3.0, and metaverse ecosystems.

Simplified Employee Pension (SEP): (source: retirementliving.com)

A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) is a voluntary retirement plan that an employer can establish for employees and also for themselves. Each year, an employer can decide whether it wishes to make an annual contribution to each qualified employee through this retirement plan. These funds must be deposited into a traditional Individual Retirement Account or Annuity (IRA). The employee is then free to decide how these employer contributions should be allocated within their IRA. It is a “simplified” retirement plan since the employer (typically self-employed individuals) is not required to submit any type of form or paperwork to the IRS. In contributing to this plan, the employer must adhere to certain rules and requirements as spelled out in IRS form 5305-SEP, the contents of which are discussed below. In addition, some of the more important rules and regulations are summarized. These voluntary employer-sponsored retirement plans are also compared to other self-funded retirement plans, like traditional IRAs.

What are SEP IRA Rules?

Distribution Rules/Required Minimum Distributions

It is mandatory that investors start taking withdrawals from a SEP IRA account when they reach the age of 70 1/2. These mandatory withdrawals are referred to as Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).

RMDs are the minimum amount that must be withdrawn from a SEP IRA each year. 

• Investors can withdraw more than the RMD each year. 

 • RMDs from SEP IRAs will be included as taxable income in the year that they are withdrawn. 

• The required minimum distribution for any year is the account balance as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year divided by a distribution period which can be obtained from the IRS’s “Uniform Lifetime Table.” 

 • The beginning date for the first required minimum distribution for IRAs is April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which the account holder reaches age 70½, if the account holder was born before July 1, 1949.

• However, if the account holder was born after June 30, 1949, RMDs must be started by April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which the account holder reaches age 72. 

Terminating a SEP Plan

The SEP IRA is a voluntary plan where the employer can decide, on a year-by-year basis whether to contribute to this Plan. Such optional retirement plans are well suited for certain employers who may experience erratic or inconsistent business cycles. Perhaps in good years, the employer has access to funds to make these contributions to all of its qualified employees.

And then in not-so-good years, the employer may decide that contributions are not warranted. After establishing a SEP Plan, an employer can terminate the plan and this termination does not need to be communicated to the IRS.

All opinions expressed on this site are owned by Thomas Wettermann and should never be considered as advice in any form. Thomas Wettermann is not an independent financial advisor. Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices, or other information contained on this website is provided as a general market commentary of Thomas Wettermann and does not constitute investment advice. Thomas Wettermann will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation to, any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on such information.

Trading digital financial assets such as cryptocurrencies can carry a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to invest, purchase, and/or trade cryptocurrency you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, adversity to risk, and volatilities. You may possibly sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment; therefore, you should not invest money you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with cryptocurrency trading, and seek advice from a qualified and independent financial advisor.

All the views expressed on this site are those of Thomas Wettermann and do not represent the opinions of any entity with which Thomas Wettermann has been, is currently, or will be affiliated.