Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Self-Employed Minimum Funding Deduction Expansion?
Available to self-employed individuals (Section 401(c)(1)) where the required plan contribution exceeds the earned income of the trade or business.
How does the Self-Employed Minimum Funding Deduction Expansion work?
Amounts required to be contributed to a plan under section 412 on behalf of a self-employed individual are treated as deductible under section 404 even if they exceed earned income, avoiding the 10% excise tax.
What law authorizes the Self-Employed Minimum Funding Deduction Expansion?
The Self-Employed Minimum Funding Deduction Expansion is authorized under IRC §4972 of the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26, United States Code).
Statutory Text — IRC §4972
Source: Internal Revenue Code, Title 26, United States Code
§ 4972. Tax on nondeductible contributions to qualified employer plans(a) Tax imposedIn the case of any qualified employer plan, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 10 percent of the nondeductible contributions under the plan (determined as of the close of the taxable year of the employer).
(b) Employer liable for taxThe tax imposed by this section shall be paid by the employer making the contributions.
(c) Nondeductible contributionsFor purposes of this section—(1) In generalThe term “nondeductible contributions” means, with respect to any qualified employer plan, the sum of—(A) the excess (if any) of—(i) the amount contributed for the taxable year by the employer to or under such plan, over
(ii) the amount allowable as a deduction under section 404 for such contributions (determined without regard to subsection (e) thereof), and
(B) the amount determined under this subsection for the preceding taxable year reduced by the sum of—(i) the portion of the amount so determined returned to the employer during the taxable year, and
(ii) the portion of the amount so determined deductible under section 404 for the taxable year (determined without regard to subsection (e) thereof).
(2) Ordering rule for section 404For purposes of paragraph (1), the amount allowable as a deduction under section 404 for any taxable year shall be treated as—(A) first from carryforwards to such taxable year from preceding taxable years (in order of time), and
(B) then from contributions made during such taxable year.
(3) Contributions which may be returned to employerIn determining the amount of nondeductible contributions for any taxable year, there shall not be taken into account any contribution for such taxable year which is distributed to the employer in a distribution described in section 4980(c)(2)(B)(ii) if such distribution is made on or before the last day on which a contribution may be made for such taxable year under section 404(a)(6).
(4) Special rule for self-employed individualsFor purposes of paragraph (1), if—(A) the amount which is required to be contributed to a plan under section 412 on behalf of an individual who is an employee (within the meaning of section 401(c)(1)), exceeds
(B) the earned income (within the meaning of section 404(a)(8)) of such individual derived from the trade or business with respect to which such plan is established,
such excess shall be treated as an amount allowable as a deduction under section 404.
(5) Pre-1987 contributionsThe term “nondeductible contribution” shall not include any contribution made for a taxable year beginning before January 1, 1987.
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