Larkmere Design Studio LLC, a calendar-year business taxed as a partnership, sponsors a SIMPLE IRA and uses the dollar-for-dollar matching contribution formula rather than the nonelective formula. One employee, aged 38, earns 90,000 dollars in 2024 and elects to defer 8,000 dollars of salary into the plan for the year. Under the matching formula the employer match is capped at 3 percent of the employee's compensation. What is the employer's matching contribution for this employee for 2024?
- A8,000 dollars, matching the employee deferral dollar for dollar with no further limit
- B1,800 dollars, being 2 percent of the employee's 90,000 dollar compensation
- C2,700 dollars, being 3 percent of the employee's 90,000 dollar compensation Correct
- D16,000 dollars, the maximum employee deferral, paid as the employer match for the year
Why A is wrong: This applies the dollar-for-dollar idea without the cap. The match is dollar for dollar only up to 3 percent of compensation, so a deferral larger than 3 percent of pay is not matched in full.
Why B is wrong: This uses the 2 percent figure that belongs to the alternative nonelective contribution formula, not the matching formula. The matching formula uses a 3 percent of compensation cap, so 2 percent understates the required match.
Why C is correct: Under the SIMPLE IRA matching formula the employer matches deferrals dollar for dollar up to 3 percent of compensation; the 8,000 dollar deferral exceeds that cap, so the match is 3 percent of 90,000 dollars, which is 2,700 dollars.
Why D is wrong: This confuses the 2024 employee elective deferral limit of 16,000 dollars with the employer match. The deferral limit caps what the employee may put in; the employer match is a separate amount limited to 3 percent of compensation.