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The Daily Insight

Do SEP contributions reduce self-employment tax?

Author

Mia Ramsey

Published Mar 27, 2026

For self-employed individuals or small business owners contributing to their employees’ SEP IRA, both self-employment tax and income tax are reduced.

Can self-employed contribute to SEP IRA?

Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Contribute as much as 25% of your net earnings from self-employment (not including contributions for yourself), up to $58,000 for 2021 ($57,000 for 2020 and $56,000 for 2019).

Are SEP accounts taxed?

SEP-IRA funds are taxed at ordinary income tax rates when qualified withdrawals are taken after age 5912 (as for traditional IRAs). Contributions to a SEP plan are deductible, lowering a taxpayer’s income tax liability in the contribution year.

A SEP-IRA is funded using pre-tax dollars. This can reduce the taxes you owe in specific ways. A self-employed person who contributes to SEP-IRAs for their employees boosts business expenses. This lowers net profit, reducing both the self-employment tax and the income tax.

Is there a SEP IRA for self employed?

Fidelity Retirement Plan Restatement SEP IRA Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SEP IRAs) help self-employed individuals and small-business owners get access to a tax-deferred benefit when saving for retirement.

When is the best time to open a SEP IRA?

The plan can be set up as late as the due date of your business income tax return for the year in which you want to establish the plan, including filing extensions if necessary. If you’re in a position to open up a SEP IRA then you definitely should. It’s one of the very best self-employed retirement plans available.

Is there a limit to how much you can contribute to a SEP IRA?

The accounts let you set aside much more money than most other retirement accounts; in 2021, you can contribute up to $58,000 or 25% of your eligible compensation, whichever is lower. (In 2020, the limit was $57,000.) This advantage comes with an important caveat for business owners with employees.

How to contribute to a fidelity SEP IRA?

Reasons to consider a Fidelity SEP IRA. Open an account and contribute online, by phone, or by mail. Earnings grow tax deferred and contributions are tax-deductible. Contribute from 0% to 25% of compensation.