Free 2026 retirement contribution estimate
See your maximum Solo 401(k) and SEP IRA contribution limits side by side, free and instantly.
YOUR BUSINESS
Use net earnings before your retirement plan contribution. The estimate adjusts for the deductible part of self employment tax.
Include employee deferrals to other 401(k) and 403(b) plans. The regular limit is shared.
Educational federal estimate only. Your plan terms, compensation, employees, related businesses, other retirement plans, and exact tax deductions can change the result.
YOUR COMPARISON
Employee deferral, employer contribution, catch up, and estimated tax savings will appear here instantly.
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Which plan fits your business?
Compare eligibility, administration, employee rules, and tax treatment before choosing a plan.
An owner only business can combine an employee deferral with an employer contribution. It can also allow Roth employee deferrals and age based catch up contributions.
The business makes the contribution. There is no regular employee deferral or catch up contribution, but setup and ongoing administration are generally simpler.
A SIMPLE IRA can suit a small employer that wants employee deferrals and required employer funding without operating a full 401(k) plan.
2026 federal limits
These dollar limits apply before plan specific compensation, eligibility, and contribution formulas.
Shared across 401(k) and 403(b) plans
Above the regular annual additions limit
Enhanced catch up replaces the $8,000 amount
Employee plus employer, before catch up
Annual compensation ceiling for plan formulas
Turn the estimate into a habit
Once you know how much you want to contribute, create a Novo Reserve and keep that amount separate from everyday operating cash.
Sources and assumptions
The calculator uses IRS 2026 limits and simplified federal formulas. A corporation estimate applies a 25 percent employer rate to W2 wages. A sole proprietor or working partner estimate applies the reduced 20 percent rate to adjusted net earnings.
The comparison cards apply your selected federal rate to an all traditional version of each contribution estimate, then round the result to the nearest $100. The Solo tax refinement reflects your Roth selection. All estimates exclude state taxes, credits, income phaseouts, and tax due when traditional money is distributed.
Regular employee deferrals and catch up contributions are reduced by amounts you enter from other plans. For an age eligible corporate owner, 2025 Social Security wages above $150,000 make 2026 catch up contributions Roth under the federal rule, subject to plan terms.
You may be able to maintain both, but contributions from the same business generally share the overall defined contribution limit. Opening both does not double the annual ceiling. A retirement plan professional can review multiple plans and related businesses.
A one participant 401(k) generally covers a business owner with no common law employees, or the owner and a spouse. Hiring an eligible employee can trigger broader plan participation and testing requirements.
The IRS uses adjusted net earnings from self employment after the deductible part of self employment tax and the contribution itself. For a plan with a 25 percent employer rate, the reduced rate for a self employed owner is generally 20 percent. This tool estimates the deductible self employment tax adjustment before applying that reduced rate.
Designated Roth employee deferrals generally do not reduce current taxable income. Traditional employee deferrals generally can. The headline plan comparison assumes traditional contributions for both plans so it stays like for like. Your Solo 401(k) tax treatment appears separately after the contribution amounts.
Traditional SEP IRA balances are generally included with other traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA balances in the Form 8606 pro rata calculation. Qualified 401(k) plan assets generally are not included in that IRA balance. Review your full IRA situation with a tax professional before choosing a plan.
Deadlines depend on the plan type, business structure, plan terms, and tax return. Employee deferral elections and contribution deposits can have different timing rules. Confirm the dates for your plan with its provider or a qualified tax professional.
No. It is an educational estimate based on simplified federal rules and 2026 limits. It does not evaluate plan eligibility, employees, controlled groups, other workplace plans, state taxes, investment choices, or every deduction adjustment.
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