SEP Correction

Hello-

Client maintained a SEP IRA for several years. The SEP IRA was moved to a new custodian and a new SEP IRA Adoption agreement was signed (2016).

1. Client has not been making equal percentage contributions for employees. It typically has been nominal (within 1%) but one or two years it was a larger difference. It appears based on the SEP fix-it guide they go back and raise everyone’s contribution to match the highest percentage (plus earnings) for each year?

2. Client’s SEP plan said employees were eligible if they worked for three out of the last five years. The employer included employees immediately though in the year they started working. Is any correction needed?

3. Client’s secretary had a small amount of wages each year ($2K-$5K) and said they didn’t want to participate in the SEP. Based on the SEP fix it guide the client would need to go back and add contributions plus earnings to an account for her?

4. Is the client required to go back prior to 2016 to correct the SEP? Is there a statute of limitations? Or is correcting from when the current plan agreement was started (2016) appropriate?

Thank you!



  1. That is correct. Problem is that this must include affected prior employees no longer employed.
  2. Not for the past, but client may want to change the 5305 requirements starting in 2024 consistent with the desired requirement.
  3. Yes.
  4. Not likely to be a problem correcting just back to 2016.
  • It is possible this difference in contribution percentages is correct.
  • While SEP IRA employer contributions must be the same percentage of compensation for all employees including the owner.
  • A self-employed individual’s compensation does not include the employer contribution itself.
  • Their SEP IRA employer contribution is a lower contribution percentage based on their self-employed earned income = business profit – 1/2 SE tax.
  • There is a table in IRS Publication 560 to obtain this lower percentage.

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