SEP/IRA and Traditional IRA contribution.

Can a sole owner (lawyer) open a traditional IRA ($6,500 age 62) and a SEP/IRA $8,500 the same year?



Yes, and if desired the TIRA contribution can also be made to the SEP IRA. However, for any year in which a SEP contribution is made, the taxpayer is considered a retirement plan participant and will have income limits over which he cannot deduct the TIRA contribution. Should that occur, he should make a Roth IRA contribution instead of a TIRA contribution.



Thank you so much for the information…..



Adding to the original question……I want to make a $3,000 SEP IRA contribution for my assistant (age 52) for 2015.  She wants to also max out her own Traditional IRA ($6,500) for 2015.  Seems as if she can do both, correct?  Would my assistant also be considered a retirement plan participant and also subject to the income limits over which she cannot deduct the Traditional IRA? 



She can make the TIRA contribution, but the deduction depends on her modified AGI and retirement plan participation. A SEP contribution makes her a participant in a workplace plan for the year IN WHICH the contribution is made, not FOR WHICH. Therefore, if no SEP contribution was made IN 2015, she would be a participant in 2016, not 2015.



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