Good news for savers: The IRS recently announced new, higher contribution limits for Self-Directed 401(k) plans for 2020.

Starting January 1^st, the new maximum employee elective contribution for workplace Self-Directed 401(k) plans will increase by $500, from $19,000 to $19,500. The same will apply to 403(b) plans, which are popular among government organizations and non-profits, the federal Thrift Savings Plan, and most 457 plans.

Those aged 50 and older can also make an additional $6,500 in so-called “catch-up” contributions in to Self-Directed 401(k)s in 2020 – a $500 increase over 2019’s catch-up contribution cap.

SIMPLE IRAs – a common defined-contribution pension plan for small businesses with up to 100 employees – also have a higher contribution limit this year. SIMPLE contributions are increasing from $13,000 to $13,500.

The IRS announced this and other changes in Notice 2019-59 (PDF) in early November.

Traditional IRAs

The cap for IRAs, including Self-Directed IRAs, is unchanged for 2020, remaining at $6,000. Those age 50 and older can contribute another $1,000 in catch-up contributions.

The income limitations for deductible IRA contributions also received a cost-of-living increase, effective January 1^st. The new limits are as follows:

• Single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan:  The phase-out range is $65,000 to $75,000, up from $64,000 to $74,000.
• Married couples filing jointly, where the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan: The phase-out range is $104,000 to $124,000, up from $103,000 to $123,000.
• IRA contributors not covered by a workplace retirement plan and married to someone who is covered under a workplace retirement plan: The IRA deduction is phased out if the couple’s income is between $196,000 and $206,000, up from $193,000 and $203,000.
• Married individuals filing a separate return, covered by a workplace retirement plan: The phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment.  It remains $0 to $10,000.

Taxpayers who have incomes exceeding the deductibility phaseout limits can still contribute to Traditional IRAs. They just have to do so on a non-deductible basis. You still get tax deferral on the assets as long as they remain within the IRA. And there are still important asset protection benefits with IRAs – especially with non-inherited IRAs. You just have to contribute with after-tax dollars.

Roth IRAs

 The cap on contribution dollar amounts for Roth IRAs remains the same as the contribution caps for Traditional IRAs. However, the income caps for Roth IRAs are different. In order to contribute the full allowable annual maximum to a Roth IRA, your income must fall below $124,000 for single taxpayers, and $196,000 for married couples filing jointly.

Above that limit, your annual allowable contribution decreases, until it reaches zero at the following thresholds:

Single taxpayers:                             $139,000

Married couples filing jointly:        $206,000

The phase-out range for a married individual filing a separate return who makes contributions to a Roth IRA is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0 to $10,000.

Details on these and other retirement-related cost-of-living adjustments for 2020 are in Notice 2019-59 (PDF).

Self-Directed IRAs

The limits for Self-Directed IRAs are the same as they are for their conventional counterparts. They do not affect the amount of leverage you can take out in a Real Estate IRA or using a margin account within a Self-Directed IRA. And the higher caps may give Real Estate IRA owners and those running partnerships and other business operations within Self-Directed IRA accounts a little more ‘breathing room’ to avoid cash crunches posed by contribution limits.

Of course, Self-Directed IRA owners can also rollover unlimited funds from qualified retirement accounts. However, a recent court ruling limits IRA owners to making one rollover transaction per year.

Interested in learning more about the Self-Directed 401(k)?  Contact American IRA, LLC at 866-7500-IRA (472) for a free consultation.  Download our free guides or visit us online at www.AmericanIRA.com.