In the course of the yr of transition, the entire quantity contributed as wage discount contributions beneath the terminated SIMPLE IRA plan and as elective contributions beneath the protected harbor 401(okay) plan can not exceed the weighted common of the wage discount contribution and elective contribution limits for every of these plans. That is based mostly on what number of days within the transition yr that every plan was in impact.

SIMPLE vs. Secure Harbor

Initially, SIMPLE plans have been restricted to companies with fewer than 100 workers who earned no less than $5,000 in compensation. 

The contribution limits that apply to 401(okay)s are larger than these relevant to SIMPLE IRAs. In 2024, for instance, the 401(okay) restrict is $23,000 with a $7,500 catch-up possibility vs. $16,000 with a $3,000 catch-up possibility for SIMPLE IRAs.

A protected harbor 401(okay) plan should obtain 100% vested employer contributions, which might be made within the type of nonelective contributions equal to three% of compensation, no matter whether or not the worker chooses to contribute. Within the different, the employer can elect to make matching contributions of 100% on the primary 3% of compensation and 50% on the following 2% of compensation. When in comparison with a conventional 401(okay), nevertheless, the protected harbor 401(okay) affords decrease administrative prices.

Employers should additionally make necessary contributions to SIMPLE IRAs every year — both a 100% match of three% of the worker’s contributions or a 2% non-elective contribution.

Earlier than Safe Act 2.0, individuals in SIMPLE IRAs couldn’t roll contributed quantities over to the SIMPLE IRA for the primary two years of participation. When an employer replaces the SIMPLE plan with a protected harbor 401(okay), the quantities might be instantly rolled over to the alternative plan as long as that plan is topic to the identical distribution restrictions that apply to 401(okay)s.

Conclusion

Secure harbor 401(okay)s can present many advantages that the SIMPLE IRA possibility merely doesn’t provide. Greater contribution limits alone might be highly effective when attracting and retaining workers. Now that making the transition has turn into simpler, many employers could want to consider the protected harbor 401(okay) possibility going ahead.

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