SIMPLE IRA PLANS 

FOR SMALL BUSINESSES 

SIMPLE IRA Plans for Small Businesses is a joint project of the U.S. Department 
of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the Internal 
Revenue Service.

To view this and other EBSA publications, visit the agency’s website. 

To order publications or speak with a benefits advisor, contact EBSA 
electronically.

Or call toll free: 866–444–3272 

This material will be made available in alternative format  
to persons with disabilities upon request:   
Voice phone: (202) 693–8664 
TTY: (202) 501–3911 

This publication constitutes a small en ti ty compliance guide for pur pos es of the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

Thinking about a retirement plan? If it seems like the right 
thing for your business, here’s a SIMPLE one. 

A SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers) IRA plan offers great 
advantages for businesses that meet two basic criteria. First, your business must have no more than 
100 employees who earned $5,000 or more during the preceding calendar year. In addition, your 
business cannot currently have another retirement plan. If you are among the thousands of business 
owners eligible for a SIMPLE IRA plan, read on.

A SIMPLE IRA plan provides you and your employees with a simplified way to contribute toward 
retirement. It reduces taxes and, at the same time, helps you attract and retain quality employees. And 
compared to other types of retirement plans, SIMPLE IRA plans offer lower start-up and annual costs. 
In short, they are just simpler to operate.

Other Advantages of a SIMPLE IRA plan

n SIMPLE IRA plans are easier than other plans to set up and run – your financial institution 
 handles most of the details. 

n Employees can make tax-deferred contributions through convenient payroll deductions. 

                                               SIMPLE IRA PLANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES                    1

  n You can choose either to match the contributions of participating employees or to contribute a 
    fixed percentage of each eligible employee’s pay.

  n You may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $500 per year for each of the first 3 years for the 
    cost of starting a SIMPLE IRA plan. (IRS Form 8881, Credit for Small Employer Pension Plan 
    Startup Costs). 

  n Administrative costs are low.

  n You are not required to file annual financial reports. 

  Establishing the Plan

  Starting a SIMPLE IRA plan is easy!

  Step 1: Contact a retirement plan professional or a representative of a financial institution that offers 
  retirement plans. Many financial institutions will have a pre-approved SIMPLE IRA plan form that 
  you can review.

  Step 2: Choosing a financial institution to maintain employees’ SIMPLE IRAs is one of the most 
  important decisions you will make, since that entity becomes a trustee to the plan. (Alternatively, you 
  can decide to let employees choose the financial institution that will receive their contributions.)

  Regardless of who makes the choice, only the following institutions can be designated as trustees or 
  custodians for SIMPLE IRA plans:

  n   Banks, 

  n   Insurance companies that issue annuity contracts, and 

  n   Other IRS-approved financial institutions.

  Trustees work with employers and agree to receive and invest contributions, and to give the employer 
  a summary description of the plan features each year.

  Step 3: Choose a plan document from your financial institution. If your financial institution offers a 
  model SIMPLE IRA plan document, you will have a choice of two forms to use:

  n IRS Form 5304-SIMPLE, Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers 
    (SIMPLE) - Not for Use with a Designated Financial Institution, if employees are allowed to 
    select the financial institutions that will receive their SIMPLE IRA plan contributions; or 

  n IRS Form 5305-SIMPLE, Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers 
    (SIMPLE) - for Use with a Designated Financial Institution, if you require that all 
    contributions under the SIMPLE IRA plan be initially deposited with a designated financial 
    institution. 

  Your selected plan document will set out which of your  employees are covered. You can choose to 
  cover all employees without restriction. Alternatively, you can limit the employees covered to those 
  who received at least $5,000 in compensation during any 2 years prior to the current calendar year 
  and who are reasonably expected to receive at least $5,000 during the current calendar year.

2 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Step 4: Complete and sign the selected IRS form (or other plan document, if not using the IRS model 
form). This document becomes the plan’s basic legal document, describing your employees’ rights 
and benefits. Do not send it to the IRS; instead, use it as a reference since it sets out the plan terms 
(for example, eligible employees, compensation, and employer contributions). You will need to 
ensure that your plan is current with the law.

Operating the Plan

It’s easy to operate a SIMPLE IRA plan.

Participants in a SIMPLE IRA Plan

Employees who elect to contribute or to whose accounts you deposit contributions are participants. 
You must provide information to your financial institution on those employees who can participate 
as described in your plan document. Inform your financial institution of any changes in the status of 
those eligible employees (for example, new employees).

Enrolling Employees in a SIMPLE IRA Plan

SIMPLE IRA plans operate on a calendar-year basis. An employer may initially set up a SIMPLE 
IRA plan as late as October 1.

You must set up a SIMPLE IRA for each employee with contributions under the plan. Employees 
must receive notice of their right to participate, to make salary reduction contributions, and to receive 
employer contributions. In addition, you (or the trustee) must give employees information about 
the plan, including a copy of the summary description. The required notice also informs employees 
of the plan’s election periods during which eligible employees can decide to contribute to the plan. 
For employers that use one of the model forms, page 3 of both Form 5304-SIMPLE and Form 
5305-SIMPLE have a model notice.

If the plan offers automatic enrollment, you can choose to automatically enroll employees in the 
SIMPLE IRA plan as long as the employees are allowed to opt out or to change the amount of salary 
reduction contributions.

Employee Contributions

Employees can make salary reduction contributions to a SIMPLE IRA plan in any amount up to the 
legal limits. The maximum amount that an employee can contribute is adjusted annually for cost-
of-living increases. The limit is $13,500 in 2020 and in 2021. Employees age 50 or over can make 
additional employee contributions (known as catch-up contributions) up to $3,000 in 2020 and in 
2021. These amounts also are adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases.

Each year, employees can change their contribution levels during the plan’s election period. This 
election period must be at least 60 days long, and employees must receive prior notice about an 
upcoming election opportunity. SIMPLE IRA plans that have already been established must have an 
annual election period that extends from November 2 to December 31. A plan can have more election 
periods each year in addition to this 60-day election period.

                                                             SIMPLE IRA PLANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES        3

  Employer Contributions

  You have two choices in determining your contributions to the SIMPLE IRA plan:

  n A 2 percent nonelective employer contribution, where eligible employees receive an employer 
   contribution equal to 2 percent of their compensation (limited to $285,000 for 2020 and 
   $290,000 for 2021 and subject to cost-of-living adjustments for later years), regardless of 
   whether they make their own contributions. 

  n A dollar-for-dollar match, generally equal to 3 percent of compensation, where only the 
   participating employees who have elected to make contributions will receive an employer 
   matching contribution. 

  Each year, you can choose which one you will use for the next year’s contributions. This choice is part 
  of the information you are required to communicate to employees before the 60-day election period.

  Rollovers to a SIMPLE IRA Plan

  You and your employees also can roll over amounts into a SIMPLE retirement account from a 
  qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan or an IRA. During the first 2 years of participation in 
  a SIMPLE IRA plan, you may roll over amounts from another SIMPLE retirement account. After 2 
  years of participation, you also may roll over amounts from a qualified retirement plan or an IRA.

4 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Depositing and Investing Plan Contributions

You (or the trustee) must deposit employee contributions in the financial institution serving as trustee 
for the plan as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than 30 days after the end of the month in 
which the amounts would otherwise have been payable to the employee. For plans with fewer than 100 
participants, employers can deposit salary reduction contributions with the plan no later than the 7th 
business day after withholding it to be considered in compliance with the law. You must make your 
employer contributions by the due date for filing your business’s Federal income tax return for the year 
(including extensions, if applicable).

After forwarding the SIMPLE IRA plan contributions to the trustee, the trustee will invest the funds, in 
many cases at the direction of the participants. SIMPLE IRAs can be invested in stocks, bonds, mutual 
funds, and similar types of investments. Employee and employer contributions are always 100 percent 
vested—that is, the money an employee has put aside plus employer contributions and earnings from 
investments cannot be forfeited. Employees can move their SIMPLE IRA assets from one SIMPLE 
IRA plan to another in accordance with the procedures of the financial institution.

How does a SIMPLE IRA plan work?

Example 1: 
Elizabeth works for the Rockland Quarry Company, a small business with 50 employees. 
Rockland has decided to establish a SIMPLE IRA plan for its employees and will match each 
employee’s contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 3 percent of the employee’s salary. Under 
this option, if a Rockland employee does not contribute to his or her SIMPLE IRA, then that 
employee does not receive any matching employer contributions from Rockland.

Elizabeth has a yearly salary of $50,000. If she decides to contribute 5 percent of her salary to 
her SIMPLE IRA, Elizabeth’s yearly contribution will be $2,500 (5 percent of $50,000). The 
Rockland matching contribution will be $1,500 (3 percent of $50,000). Therefore, the total 
contribution to Elizabeth’s SIMPLE IRA that year will be $4,000 (her $2,500 contribution 
plus the $1,500 contribution from Rockland). The financial institution holding Elizabeth’s 
SIMPLE IRA has several investment choices and Elizabeth is free to choose which ones suit 
her best.

Example 2:  
Austin works for the Skidmore Tire Company, a small business with 75 employees. Skidmore 
has decided to establish a SIMPLE IRA plan for its employees and will make a 2 percent 
nonelective contribution for each of them. Under this option, even if an eligible Skidmore 
employee does not contribute to his or her SIMPLE IRA, that employee would still receive an 
employer nonelective contribution to his or her SIMPLE IRA equal to 2 percent of salary.

Austin has a yearly salary of $40,000 and has decided that this year he simply cannot 
contribute to his SIMPLE IRA. Even though Austin will not contribute this year, Skidmore 
must make a nonelective contribution of $800 (2 percent of $40,000). The financial institution 
holding Austin’s SIMPLE IRA has several investment choices, and Austin has the same 
investment options as the other plan participants.

                                                  SIMPLE IRA PLANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES                  5

  Employee Communications

  There are two key disclosure documents that inform participants about how the plan operates, notify 
  them of changes in the plan’s structure and operation, and provide them a chance to make decisions 
  and take timely action about their accounts.

  The summary description    is a plain-language explanation of the plan that informs participants of 
  their rights and responsibilities under the plan. It also informs participants about the plan’s features. 
  The financial institution usually provides this document to participants at the plan’s inception, when 
  employees first join the plan, and annually thereafter.

  A summary description must include:

  n The names and addresses of the employer and trustee,

  n A description of the requirements for eligibility to participate,

  n The benefits provided, 

  n The time and method of making salary elections, and 

  n The procedure for, and effects of, withdrawals and rollovers (including the penalties for early 
     withdrawals).

  You can satisfy the summary description requirement by giving employees the most recent copy of 
  IRS Form 5304-SIMPLE or 5305-SIMPLE provided by the financial institution (if one of these model 
  forms is used to establish the SIMPLE IRA plan), along with the financial institution’s procedures for 
  withdrawals and transfers.

  Each year, in addition to the information above, employees must receive an annual election notice 
  describing their right to make salary reduction contributions and your decision to make either 
  matching or nonelective contributions for the following year. For employers that use one of the 
  model forms, page 3 of both Form 5304-SIMPLE and Form 5305-SIMPLE contain a Model 
  Notification to Eligible Employees that can be used to provide this information to employees.

  Every year, during the 60-day election period at the end of the year, you must give your employees 
  the opportunity to enter into a salary reduction agreement or to modify an existing agreement.

  Reporting to the Government

  SIMPLE IRA plans do NOT have to file annual financial reports with the government.

  The financial institution reports distributions from the plan to both the IRS and the distribution 
  recipients on Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing 
  Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc.

  The financial institution handling the SIMPLE IRAs provides the IRS and participants with an 
  annual statement containing contribution and fair market value information on Form 5498, Individual 
  Retirement Arrangement Contribution Information.

6 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

SIMPLE IRA contributions are not included in the “Wages, tips, other compensation” box of Form 
W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. However, salary reduction contributions must be included in the boxes 
for Social Security and Medicare wages.

When Employees Want to Stop Contributions

Employees may elect to stop their salary reduction contributions to a SIMPLE IRA plan at any time. 
If they do so, the SIMPLE IRA plan may prevent them from resuming salary reduction contributions 
until the beginning of the next calendar year. Employers making nonelective employer contributions 
must continue to make them for these employees.

Distributions

Participants cannot take loans from their SIMPLE IRAs, but participants can withdraw SIMPLE IRA 
contributions and earnings at any time. When participants take a distribution, they typically can elect 
to:

   n Take a lump sum distribution of their account, or

   n Roll over their account to an IRA or another employer’s retirement plan.

Distributions from a SIMPLE IRA are generally subject to income tax for the year in which they are 
received. If a participant takes a withdrawal from a SIMPLE IRA before age 59½, generally a 10 
percent additional tax applies. If the withdrawal occurs within 2 years of beginning participation, the 
additional tax increases to 25 percent.

Employees can roll over SIMPLE IRA contributions and earnings tax free from one SIMPLE IRA to 
another. Employees can also make tax-free rollovers from a SIMPLE IRA to another type of IRA, or to 
another employer’s qualified plan, after 2 years of beginning participation in the SIMPLE IRA plan.

A specific minimum amount of SIMPLE IRA contributions and earnings is required to be distributed 
by April 1 of the year following the year the participant reaches age 72. After this initial year, the 
participant must receive a required minimum distribution for each year by December 31 of that year. A 
participant that reached age 70½ before 2020 may have a required minimum distribution for 2021 even 
though they’re not yet 72. (For further details regarding the required minimum distribution amount, 
see IRS Publication 590-B, Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs).)

Monitoring the Trustee

As the plan sponsor, you should monitor the financial institution/trustee to ensure that it is doing 
everything it is required to do. You should also ensure that the trustee’s fees are reasonable for the 
services it is providing. If the trustee is not doing its job properly, or if its fees are not reasonable, you 
should consider replacing the trustee.

                                                      SIMPLE IRA PLANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES                    7

  Terminating the Plan

  Although SIMPLE IRA plans are established with the intention of continuing indefinitely, the time 
  may come when a SIMPLE IRA plan no longer suits the purposes of your business. When that 
  happens, consult with your financial institution to determine if another type of retirement plan might 
  be a better alternative.

  To terminate a SIMPLE IRA plan, notify the financial institution that you will not make a contribution 
  for the next calendar year and that you want to terminate the contract or agreement.

  You must also notify your employees that the SIMPLE IRA plan will be discontinued.

  You do not need to give any notice to the IRS that the SIMPLE IRA plan has been terminated.

  Mistakes … and How to Correct Them

  Even with the best intentions, those operating the plan can still make mistakes. The U.S. Department 
  of Labor and the IRS have correction programs to help employers with SIMPLE IRA plans correct 
  plan errors, protect participants’ interests, and keep the plan’s tax benefits. These programs are 
  structured to encourage you to correct the errors early.

  Periodically reviewing the plan makes it easier to spot and correct mistakes in plan operation. See the 
  Resources section for further information.

  Your SIMPLE IRA Plan – A Quick Review

  n Choose a financial institution to set up your SIMPLE IRA plan. 

  n Enroll your employees and start salary reduction contributions. 

  n Deposit contributions timely. 

  n Tell your employees about their rights under the plan. 

  n Monitor your financial institution/trustee.

8 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Resources

To find this publication and more information on retirement plans, visit:

 The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration

n Main site

n Information for small businesses

n Retirement savings information for employers and employees

Internal Revenue Service

n Main site

n Guidance for maintaining your SIMPLE IRA plan

In addition, the following jointly developed publications are available on the DOL and IRS 
websites or can be ordered electronically or by calling toll free 866-444-3272.
n Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business, Publication 3998, provides an 
  overview of retirement plans available to small businesses. 

n 401(k) Plans for Small Businesses, Publication 4222, provides detailed information about the 
  establishment and operation of a 401(k) plan.

n Adding Automatic Enrollment to Your 401(k) Plan, Publication 4721, explains how to add 
  automatic enrollment to your existing 401(k) plan.

n Automatic Enrollment 401(k) Plans for Small Businesses, Publication 4674, explains a type of 
  retirement plan that allows small businesses to increase plan participation.  

n Payroll Deduction IRAs for Small Businesses, Publication 4587, describes an arrangement that 
  is an easy way for businesses to give employees an opportunity to save for retirement.

n Profit Sharing Plans for Small Businesses, Publication 4806, describes a flexible way for 
  businesses to help employees save for retirement. 

n SEP Retirement Plans for Small Businesses, Publication 4333, describes a low-cost retirement 
  savings option for small businesses.

For business owners with a plan

n Retirement Plan Correction Programs, Publication 4224, provides a brief description of the 
  IRS and DOL voluntary correction programs. 

                                                                  SIMPLE IRA PLANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES 9

   Related materials available from DOL

   For small businesses
   n Meeting Your Fiduciary Responsibilities

   n Understanding Retirement Plan Fees and Expenses

   n Tips for Selecting and Monitoring Service Providers for Your Employee Benefit Plan

   In addition, DOL sponsors an interactive website – the Small Business Retirement Savings Advisor – 
   that encourages small business owners to choose the appropriate retirement plan for their businesses and 
   provides resources on maintaining plans.

   For employees
   n What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan (also in Spanish)

   n Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future (also in Spanish)

   n Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning (also in Spanish)

   n Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement (also in Spanish)

   n Women and Retirement Savings (also in Spanish)

   To view these publications, go to DOL’s Saving Matters website. To order publications or request 
   assistance from a benefits advisor, contact EBSA electronically or call toll free 866-444-3272.

   Related materials available from the IRS

   n Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE, and Qualified Plans), Publication 560 

   n Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), Publication 590-A 

   n Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), Publication 590-B

   n Have you had your check-up this year? for Retirement Plans, Publication 3066 

   n SIMPLE IRA Plan Checklist, Publication 4284

   n Lots of Benefits, Publication 4118 (also in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese and Russian)

   To view these related publications, go to the IRS’s website. The publications do not reflect any changes 
   in the law after the date of the publication.

10 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Publication 4334  (Rev. 11-2020)  Catalog Number 38508F
Department of the Treasury  Internal Revenue Service  www.IRS.gov

                                                                 November 2020