Below is a list of questions frequently asked by business owners about their Individual (Solo) 401(k) plans. Find answers to questions about eligibility, fees, contributions, withdrawals, distributions, and more.
Returning Customer?
Log in as a Plan Administrator of an Individual 401(k), SEP-IRA, or SIMPLE IRA
Log in as a Plan Administrator of a 401(k) for Small Business
Call one of our Small Business Retirement Specialists to open an account.
What are some key benefits to opening an Individual 401(k) plan?
You can make profit sharing, before-tax salary reduction, and after-tax Roth plan contributions to your Individual 401(k) account. Total contributions cannot exceed $70,000 per participant for 2025 (and up to $77,500 if age 50 or over). For 2024, the limits were $69,000 and $76,500, respectively.
In addition:
The employer contribution made to your Individual 401(k) account generally is deductible as a business expense and can grow tax-deferred until withdrawal, usually during retirement.
There is no fee to set up a T. Rowe Price Individual 401(k) plan.1
If you open an account at T. Rowe Price, you can choose from more than 100 no-load T. Rowe Price mutual funds.
What are some benefits of Roth plan contributions?
Unlike before-tax salary reduction contributions, Roth plan contributions are made with after-tax dollars, or money you've already paid taxes on. This means that your Roth contributions are included in the amount that you report to the IRS as taxable income. Like before-tax salary reduction contributions, Roth plan contributions are automatically deducted from your pay (or income for unincorporated individuals). When you make Roth plan contributions, however, the amount of your take-home pay will be less than when you make before-tax salary reduction contributions.
The good news is that your Roth plan contributions are tax-free when distributed and any earnings are not taxed when you take a qualified distribution2―generally in retirement. The bottom line: You can potentially maximize your spendable income in retirement, even if it means giving up before-tax advantages now. Roth plan contributions offer flexibility in retirement withdrawal strategies, including withdrawing the funds tax-free in retirement and the potential for more spendable income, as well as no RMDs.
How do I start an Individual 401(k) plan with T. Rowe Price?
To start an Individual 401(k) plan for your business at T. Rowe Price, you can download the necessary forms using the link below. For questions and assistance in completing the forms, or to discuss your options, call a T. Rowe Price Small Business Retirement Specialist at 1-800-492-7670. You can also request that an Individual 401(k) plan kit be sent to your home or business.
Who can establish an Individual 401(k) plan for their business?
Self-employed individuals and small businesses with no eligible employees other than the owner (and spouse). This includes:
Sole proprietors
Spouse-only partnerships
Corporations (including "S" corporations)
Individuals with self-employment income
The plan is not appropriate for businesses that are planning to add non-spouse employees in the near future.
When is the plan's setup and funding deadline?
The Individual 401(k) plan must be set up on or before the business tax filing deadline, including extensions. Employer/profit sharing contributions can be made up until your business's tax filing deadline, plus any extensions.
What is the deadline to make salary deferral contributions to my Individual 401(k) plan?
The deadline to make salary deferral contributions is the business tax filing deadline. However, if your business is incorporated, salary deferral contributions must be contributed as soon as the assets can be segregated from the employer’s assets, but no later than the 15th business day of the month following the month in which the deferral applies. For instance, amounts deferred from your salary in September must be deposited to your 401(k) account no later than the 15th business day of October.
How do I make an electronic contribution to my Individual 401(k) plan at T. Rowe Price?
If you open an account at T. Rowe Price, the Plan Sponsor website is a convenient way to make contributions via the Automated Clearing House (ACH).
Already enrolled? Contribute now.
Not enrolled yet? Enroll now.
How do I make a contribution by check to my Individual 401(k) plan at T. Rowe Price?
Already enrolled in T. Rowe Price's Plan Sponsor website? Log in to T. Rowe Price's Plan Sponsor website to enter your contribution information, and then simply print the confirmation and mail it with your check.
Not enrolled yet? Print out an Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan Contribution Form (PDF).
Mail to:
T. Rowe Price
P.O. Box 17350
Baltimore, MD 21297-1350
Express Delivery only:
T. Rowe Price Mail Code 17350
4515 Painters Mill Rd
Owings Mills, MD 21117
What is the maximum Individual 401(k) plan contribution?
Generally, you can deduct up to 25% of compensation paid to all eligible employees. (This limit may be reduced if self-employed). You can contribute up to $23,500 in salary deferrals for the 2025 tax year if you're under age 50 ($31,000 if you're age 50 or older). These salary deferral contribution limits apply if you are making before-tax salary reduction contributions, Roth plan contributions, or both to your Individual 401(k) account.
Total contributions cannot exceed $70,000 per participant under age 50 in 2025 ($77,500 for participants age 50 and over).
Note: For 2024, the salary deferral limit was $23,000 if you were under age 50 ($30,500 if you were age 50 or older). The total contributions could not exceed $69,000 ($76,500 for participants age 50 and over) in 2024.
Are annual contributions required?
No. Each year, you decide if (and how much) to contribute to the plan. If you open your account at T. Rowe Price, once your contribution amount has been determined, you may submit a contribution via the Plan Sponsor website, or use the contribution form (PDF) to mail the contribution.
What fees are charged to maintain an Individual 401(k) plan at T. Rowe Price?
T. Rowe Price charges no plan setup fees, loads, or sales commissions. An annual $20 account service fee is charged for each mutual fund account with a balance below $10,000. The $20 account service fee will be waived for the following circumstances: Subscribe to electronic delivery of statements and confirmations; maintain an individual combined balance of $50,000 or more for all T. Rowe Price accounts (including mutual funds, Brokerage, and Small Business Retirement Plans), and certain accounts enrolled in the T. Rowe Price Summit Program. Participants can subscribe to paperless delivery via the T. Rowe Price website once their account is established. If the participant account is closed during the year, a $20 closeout fee will be deducted automatically from the proceeds of the total redemption. However, the closeout fee is waived when an account service fee was previously assessed to the participant account for that year or when the proceeds are being used for a rollover, transfer, or conversion to a T. Rowe Price retirement plan account or T. Rowe Price IRA. Mutual funds are subject to management fees and expenses.
Are there any IRS filing requirements?
You are generally required to file IRS Form 5500 each year if the combined assets in all plans sponsored by the employer exceeds $250,000.
Please speak to your tax and legal advisor regarding questions that you may have regarding filing and other tax and legal requirements.
How do before-tax salary deferrals and after-tax Roth plan contributions compare?
There are advantages to both types of contributions. But as the chart below shows, there are important differences. Deciding whether to make Roth plan contributions depends on your situation and should be based on several factors, including your age and tax rates now as well as in retirement.
| - | Before-Tax Contributions | Roth Plan Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| When you contribute | Your contributions are deducted from your pay before taxes are withheld | Your contributions are deducted from your pay after taxes are withheld |
| You lower your current taxable income | You do not lower your current taxable income and may see less take-home pay | |
| Any earnings grow tax-deferred | Any earnings grow tax-free2 | |
| When you withdraw | Your contributions and earnings are taxed as ordinary income in the year of the distribution |
Your contributions and earnings are tax-free if you take a qualified distribution2 |
This material is provided for general and educational purposes only, and is not intended to provide legal, tax or investment advice.
1An annual $20 account service fee is charged for each mutual fund account with a balance below $10,000. The $20 account service fee will be waived for the following circumstances: Subscribe to electronic delivery of statements and confirmations; maintain an individual combined balance of $50,000 or more for all T. Rowe Price accounts (including mutual funds, Brokerage, and Small Business Retirement Plans), and certain accounts enrolled in the T. Rowe Price Summit Program. Participants can subscribe to paperless delivery via the T. Rowe Price website once their account is established. If the participant account is closed during the year, a $20 closeout fee will be deducted automatically from the proceeds of the total redemption. However, the closeout fee is waived when an account service fee was previously assessed to the participant account for that year or when the proceeds are being used for a rollover, transfer, or conversion to a T. Rowe Price retirement plan account or T. Rowe Price IRA.
2Roth qualified distributions: A qualified distribution is tax-free if taken at least 5 years after the year of your first Roth plan contribution and you've reached age 59½, become totally disabled, or died. If your distribution is not qualified, any withdrawal from your account will be partially taxed. These rules apply to Roth distributions from employer-sponsored retirement plans. Additional plan distribution rules apply.
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