The limits on contributions to a SIMPLE IRA vary with the type of contribution that is made.

Salary reduction contributions. For 2000, salary reduction contributions (employee-chosen contributions) that your employer can make on your behalf under a SIMPLE plan are limited to $6,000.

If you are a participant in any other employer plans during the year and you have elective salary reductions or deferred compensation under those plans, the salary reduction contributions under the SIMPLE plan also are included in the $10,500 annual limit on exclusions of salary reductions and other elective deferrals.

You, not your employer, are responsible for monitoring compliance with these limits.

Matching employer contributions. Generally, your employer must make matching contributions to your SIMPLE IRA in an amount equal to your salary reduction contributions. These matching contributions cannot be more than 3% of your compensation for the calendar year. See Matching contributions less than 3%, later.

Example 1. In 2000, Joshua was a participant in his employer's SIMPLE plan. His compensation, before SIMPLE plan contributions, was $41,600, or $800 per week. Instead of taking it all in cash, Joshua elected to have 12.5% of his weekly pay ($100) contributed to his SIMPLE IRA. For the full year, Joshua's salary reduction contributions were $5,200, which is less than the $6,000 limit on these contributions.

Under the plan, Joshua's employer was required to make matching contributions to Joshua's SIMPLE IRA. Because his employer's matching contributions must equal Joshua's salary reductions, but cannot be more than 3% of his compensation (before salary reductions) for the year, his employer's matching contribution was limited to $1,248 (3% of $41,600).

Example 2. Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that Joshua's compensation for the year was $240,000 and he chose to have 2.5% of his weekly pay contributed to his SIMPLE IRA.

In this example, Joshua's salary reduction contributions for the year (2.5% times $240,000) were equal to the 2000 limit for salary reduction contributions ($6,000). Because 3% of Joshua's compensation ($7,200) is more than the amount his employer was required to match ($6,000), his employer's matching contributions were limited to $6,000.

In this example, total contributions made on Joshua's behalf for the year were $12,000, the maximum contributions permitted under a SIMPLE plan for 2000.

Matching contributions less than 3%. Your employer can reduce the 3% limit on matching contributions for a calendar year, but only if:

1. The limit is not reduced below 1%,
2. The limit is not reduced for more than 2 years out of the 5-year period that ends with (and includes) the year for which the election is effective, and
3. Employees are notified of the reduced limit within a reasonable period of time before the 60-day election period during which they can enter into salary reduction agreements.

For purposes of applying the rule in item (2) in determining whether the limit was reduced below 3% for the year, any year before the first year in which your employer (or a predecessor employer) maintains a SIMPLE IRA plan will be treated as a year for which the limit was 3%. If your employer chooses to make non-elective contributions for a year, that year also will be treated as a year for which the limit was 3%.

Nonelective employer contributions. If your employer chooses to make nonelective contributions, instead of matching contributions, to each eligible employee's SIMPLE IRA, contributions must be 2% of your compensation for the entire year. For 2000, only $170,000 of your compensation can be taken into account to figure the contribution limit.

Your employer can substitute the 2% nonelective contribution for the matching contribution for a year, only if:

1. Eligible employees are notified that a 2% nonelective contribution will be made instead of a matching contribution, and
2. This notice is provided within a reasonable period during which employees can enter into salary reduction agreements.

Example 3. Assume the same facts as in Example 2, except that Joshua's employer chose to make nonelective contributions instead of matching contributions. Because his employer's nonelective contributions are limited to 2% of up to $170,000 of Joshua's compensation, his employer's contribution to Joshua's SIMPLE IRA was limited to $3,400 for 2000. In this example, total contributions made on Joshua's behalf for the year were $9,400 (Joshua's salary reductions of $6,000 plus his employer's contribution of $3,400).

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