Safe harbor deferral-only plans for employers with no retirement plan

A safe harbor deferral-only plan maintained by an eligible employer shall be treated as meeting the requirements of paragraph (12).

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “safe harbor deferral-only plan” means any plan which meets—

(i) the automatic deferral requirements of subparagraph (C),

(ii) the contribution limitations of subparagraph (D), and

(iii) the requirements of subparagraph (E) of section 401(k)(13).

(i) In general The requirements of this subparagraph are met if, under the plan, each eligible employee is treated as having elected to have the employer make elective contributions in an amount equal to a qualified percentage of compensation.

(ii) Election out The election treated as having been made under clause (i) shall cease to apply with respect to any eligible employee if such eligible employee makes an affirmative election— (I) to not have such contributions made, or (II) to make elective contributions at a level specified in such affirmative election.

(iii) Qualified percentage For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “qualified percentage” means, with respect to any employee, any percentage determined under the plan if such percentage is applied uniformly and is not less than 3 or more than 15 percent.

(i) In general The requirements of this subparagraph are met if, under the plan— (I) the only contributions which may be made are elective contributions of eligible employees, and (II) the aggregate amount of such elective contributions which may be made with respect to any employee for any calendar year shall not exceed $6,000.

(ii) Cost-of-living adjustment In the case of any calendar year beginning after December 31, 2024 , the $6,000 amount under clause (i) shall be adjusted in the same manner as under section 402(g)(4), except that “2023” shall be substituted for “2005”.

(iii) Catch-up contributions for individuals age 50 or over In the case of an individual who has attained the age of 50 before the close of the taxable year, the limitation under clause (i)(II) shall be increased by the applicable amount determined under section 219(b)(5)(B)(ii) (after the application of section 219(b)(5)(C)(iii)).

For purposes of this paragraph—

(i) In general The term “eligible employer” means any employer if the employer does not maintain a qualified plan with respect to which contributions are made, or benefits are accrued, for service in the year for which the determination is being made. If only individuals other than employees described in subparagraph (A) of section 410(b)(3) are eligible to participate in such arrangement, then the preceding sentence shall be applied without regard to any qualified plan in which only employees described in such subparagraph are eligible to participate.

(ii) Relief for acquisitions, etc. Rules similar to the rules of section 408(p)(10) shall apply for purposes of clause (i).

(iii) Qualified plan The term “qualified plan” means a plan, contract, pension, account, or trust described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (5) of section 219(g) (determined without regard to the last sentence of such paragraph (5)).

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “eligible employee” means any employee of the employer other than an employee who is permitted to be excluded under paragraph (12)(A).