The 411 on the Safe Harbor 401(k)

Posted On

8/13/2018

Stephanie Davis

Choosing to offer a retirement plan as a benefit for your employees can be a real differentiator when it comes to attracting and retaining a talented workforce—and it’s also a milestone for many small businesses, marking when they have “made it” to the degree that they can compete with benefits offered by larger companies. Actually selecting and administering a plan that is right for your specific business, however, may be a bit confusing. With different options and government regulations to follow, it can be overwhelming.

The 411 on the Safe Harbor 401(k)

In this article we are going to break down the differences between a traditional 401(k) and a safe harbor 401(k) and help you determine which is best for your business. We’ll also be doing a deep dive on the safe harbor 401(k) in our free webinar, Maximize Your Retirement and Tax Savings in 2018, on Thursday August 16^th.

How to Choose

Depending on your business, it may make sense to stick with a traditional 401(k) over a safe harbor 401(k), or vice versa. While both are retirement options that lead to tax savings and employee satisfaction, there are a few differences you’ll want to consider. The biggest differences between these plans fall into three areas: contributions, vesting, and testing.

Feature	Traditional 401(k) and Owner Only	401(k) Safe Harbor

Maximum Employee Deferral	$18,500*	$18,500*
Roth Contribution	Yes, within deferral limit	Yes, within deferral limit
Catch-up Contributions (for participants 50 or older)	$6,000*	$6,000*
Employer Contribution	Employer option	Matching contribution of 100%, up to 3% of compensation, and 50% of the next 2% (OR) Non-elective contribution of 3% of compensation to all eligible participants
Vesting	Options available	Immediate (Safe Harbor contributions) Options available (Other contributions)
Loans	Yes	Yes
ADP/ACP Testing	Yes	No
Top-Heavy Testing	Yes	Generally satisfied
Investment Providers	Choice of many	Choice of many
Compatible with Profit Sharing Plans	Yes	Yes

*Limit indexed annually by the IRS.

Interested in the Safe Harbor 401(k)?

As you consider what plan is right for you and your small business, there is one more thing to know about the safe harbor 401(k) that may be enticing. If you have less than 100 employees and this is your first plan, you may qualify for tax credits up to $1,500, which breaks down to $500 per year over 3 years. Because setting up a plan can be time consuming and costly, this benefit is meant to offset the costs you incur while setting up the plan.

Next Steps

The reason for all of the focus on the safe harbor 401(k) plan right now, is the deadline to switch to the plan is fast approaching on October 1. If you find yourself still confused about what to do, don’t forget to sign up for our free safe harbor 401(k) webinar on August 16^th.

If you are interested in speaking to someone to secure a safe harbor 401(k) plan for your business, please call us at 866-497-2028.