You can usually deduct, subject to limits, contributions you make to a qualified plan, including those made for your own retirement. The contributions (and earnings and gains on them) are generally tax free until distributed by the plan.

Deduction Limits

The deduction limit for your contributions to a qualified plan depends on the kind of plan you have.

Defined contribution plans. The deduction limit for a defined contribution plan depends on whether it is a profit-sharing plan or a money purchase pension plan.

Profit-sharing plan. Your deduction for contributions to a profit-sharing plan cannot be more than 15% (25% for years beginning after December 31, 2001) of the compensation paid (or accrued) during the year to your eligible employees participating in the plan. You must reduce this limit in figuring the deduction for contributions you make for your own account. See Deduction Limit for Self-Employed Individuals, later.

Money purchase pension plan. Your deduction for contributions to a money purchase pension plan is generally limited to 25% of the compensation paid (or accrued) during the year to your eligible employees. You must reduce this 25% limit in figuring the deduction for contributions you make for yourself, as discussed later.

Defined benefit plans. The deduction for contributions to a defined benefit plan is based on actuarial assumptions and computations. Consequently, an actuary must figure your deduction limit.

In figuring the deduction for contributions, you cannot take into account any contributions or benefits that are more than the limits discussed earlier under Limits on Contributions and Benefits. However, for plan years beginning after December 31, 2001, your deduction can be as much as the plan's unfunded current liability.

Deduction limit for multiple plans. If you contribute to both a defined contribution plan and a defined benefit plan and at least one employee is covered by both plans, your deduction for those contributions is limited. Your deduction cannot be more than the greater of the following amounts.

• 25% of the compensation paid (or accrued) during the year to your eligible employees participating in the plan. You must reduce this 25% limit in figuring the deduction for contributions you make for your own account.
• Your contributions to the defined benefit plans, but not more than the amount needed to meet the year's minimum funding standard for any of these plans.

For this rule, a SEP is treated as a separate profit-sharing (defined contribution) plan.

Deduction Limit for Self-Employed Individuals

If you make contributions for yourself, you need to make a special computation to figure your maximum deduction for these contributions. Compensation is your net earnings from self-employment, defined in chapter 1. This definition takes into account both the following items.

• The deduction for one-half of your self-employment tax.
• The deduction for contributions on your behalf to the plan.

The deduction for your own contributions and your net earnings depend on each other. For this reason, you determine the deduction for your own contributions indirectly by reducing the contribution rate called for in your plan. To do this, use either the Rate Table for Self-Employed or the Rate Worksheet for Self-Employed in chapter 5. Then figure your maximum deduction by using the Deduction Worksheet for Self-Employed in chapter 5.

Multiple plans. The deduction limit for multiple plans (discussed earlier) also applies to contributions you make as an employer on your own behalf.

Where To Deduct Contributions

Deduct the contributions you make for your common-law employees on Schedule C (Form 1040), on Schedule F (Form 1040), on Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, on Form 1120-A, U.S. Short-Form Corporation Income Tax Return, or on Form 1120S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, whichever applies.

You take the deduction for contributions for yourself on line 29 of Form 1040.

If you are a partner, the partnership passes its deduction to you for the contributions it made for you. The partnership will report these contributions on Schedule K-1 (Form 1065). You deduct them on line 29 of Form 1040.

Carryover of Excess Contributions

If you contribute more to the plans than you can deduct for the year, you can carry over and deduct the difference in later years, combined with your contributions for those years. Your combined deduction in a later year is limited to 25% of the participating employees' compensation for that year. The limit is 15% (25% for years beginning after December 31, 2001) if you have only profit-sharing plans (including SEPs). However, these percentage limits must be reduced to figure your maximum deduction for contributions you make for yourself. See Deduction Limit for Self-Employed Individuals, earlier. The amount you carry over and deduct may be subject to the excise tax discussed next.

Table 4-1. Carryover of Excess Contributions Illustrated

Table 4-1 illustrates the carryover of excess contributions to a profit-sharing plan.

Excise Tax for Nondeductible (Excess) Contributions

If you contribute more than your deduction limit to a retirement plan, you have made nondeductible contributions and you may be liable for an excise tax. In general, a 10% excise tax applies to nondeductible contributions made to qualified pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus, or annuity plans and to SEPs.

Special rule for self-employed individuals. The 10% excise tax does not apply to any contribution made to meet the minimum funding requirements in a money purchase pension plan or a defined benefit plan. Even if that contribution is more than your earned income from the trade or business for which the plan is set up, the difference is not subject to this excise tax. See Minimum Funding Requirement, earlier.

Exception. If contributions to one or more defined contribution plans are not deductible only because they are more than the combined plan deduction limit, the 10% excise tax does not apply to the extent the difference is not more than the greater of the following amounts.

• 6% of the participants' compensation for the year.
• The sum of employer matching contributions and the elective deferrals to a 401(k) plan.

Reporting the tax. You must report the tax on your nondeductible contributions on Form 5330. Form 5330 includes a computation of the tax. See the separate instructions for completing the form.

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