What Is a Safe Harbor 401(k)?

An illustration of people holding up bags of money in three panels, representing the title: What Is a Safe Harbor 401(k)?
Photo:

The Balance / Theresa Chiechi

Definition

A safe harbor 401(k) is a type of retirement plan that helps small businessowners accommodate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) nondiscrimination test. It's a way to structure a plan that automatically passes the test or avoids it altogether.

Key Takeaways

  • A safe harbor 401(k) plan is one that's set up to give employers some flexibility regarding IRS non-discrimination rules for contributions.
  • This type of plan offers three options to ensure that the average contributions of highly compensated employees don't exceed the average contributions of everyone else by more than 2%.
  • Employers must match employee contributions on a consistent basis.
  • Companies can amend their plans up until the 30th day before the plan year ends, to take advantage of safe harbor provisions.

Definition and Example of a Safe Harbor 401(k)

A safe harbor 401(k) is structured so that all employees receive employer contributions to their retirement plan. This reduces the administrative burden faced by employers and ensures that the retirement plan meets IRS rules for non-discrimination.

The IRS wants 401(k) plans to be used by all workers. It checks to make sure the highest-paid employees or business owners don't max out their 401(k) plan contributions for the year while other employees contribute much less. The IRS wants to see that all take advantage of the plan, not just those with high-paying jobs.

The IRS tests each retirement plan to make sure the average contributions of highly paid employees don't exceed those of everyone else by more than 2%. Business owners can resort to safe harbor 401(k)s to avoid the compliance hassles and costs of meeting the test.

Note

Highly paid employees are those who earn at least $135,000 in 2022 and $150,000 in 2023, or those who own more than a 5% stake in the business during the year or in the year prior.

How Does a Safe Harbor 401(k) Work?

The IRS can reject a retirement plan contribution that it believes is excessive. If the employer doesn't fix things, the plan could lose its tax-qualified status. One way to fix a plan is for the maximum-allowed contribution to be lower. That would put higher-paid workers in line with those who aren't fully active. The other is to recast the excess contributions of highly paid workers as taxable income.

If a plan loses its tax-qualified status, it costs you or the employee. You would owe federal and state income tax as well as Social Security, Medicare, and Federal Unemployment (FUTA) taxes. Workers could not roll over plan assets to other eligible retirement plans. There also would be a 10% excise tax on the excess contribution.

Note

It might raise a flag for the IRS if you're a business owner, and your 401(k) has low adoption rates or saving rates among rank-and-file workers.

A long vesting schedule isn't allowed with safe harbor plans. Contributions are fully vested when they're made. The company must give all workers instant ownership. That includes those who leave or are fired during the year.

You have more options with a safe harbor plan. You can design your safe harbor plan to limit any matching contributions to those employees who defer compensation. You can also contribute for all workers, including those who don't pay into their own plans.

Plans can contribute in one of three ways: 

  1. Basic: The employer matches 100% of the first 3% of earnings, plus 50% of the next 2%.
  2. Enhanced: The employer provides a match that is at least equal to what would have been made under the basic plan. The elective- to non-elective payment ratio can't increase as the worker's own contributions go up.
  3. Non-elective: The employer contributes 3% of compensation to all eligible workers.

A safe harbor provision can be attached to any type of retirement plan or 401(k). Plan participants must get a lot of written notice and education. They must receive a plan description within 90 days of being covered by the plan. That is extra work, but it should be easy enough to execute after a plan is set up.

How to Set up a Safe Harbor 401(k)

Search online, or ask fellow business owners or financial professionals in your area to suggest retirement plan providers who can help you set up a 401(k) or custom retirement plan for your small business.

Note

"Plan factories" are not necessarily better than local experts. It can pay to shop around when you're looking for a safe harbor. Find someone who knows the options and can explain them to you. You want a way to maximize contribution limits for yourself and other key employees. 

Safe harbor 401(k) plans tend to be better for companies with steady revenue streams. Other 401(k) plans might be better choices if you think your business could have trouble consistently matching funds.

You can structure a plan to be age-based. In that case, those closest to retirement age can receive more in employer contributions. Some plans break the employees into classes or tiers, with older or key employees given a larger profit share.

SECURE Act Provisions

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was signed into law in December 2019. It increased the limit for automatic increases in an employee's deferrals from 10% to 15%.

The SECURE Act also provides that companies can amend their plans to safe-harbor plans up until the 30th day before the plan year ends. Amendments after that time can still be allowed if they increase non-elective contributions by at least 4% for all eligible workers.

The plan must be amended by the last day for paying out excess distributions for the plan year. That is typically the end of the following year.

Correction - Dec. 9, 2022: This article has been updated to correct the rules for highly paid employees.

Was this page helpful?
Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. IRS. "2023 Limitations Adjusted as Provided in Section 415(d), etc.: Notice 2022-55." Page 2.

  2. IRS. "2022 Limitations Adjusted as Provided in Section 415(d), etc.: Notice 2021-61." Page 2.

  3. IRS. "Tax Consequences of Plan Disqualification." Accessed Dec. 2, 2021.

  4. IRS. ”401(k) Plan Fix-It Guide - The Plan Failed the 401(K) ADP and ACP Nondiscrimination Tests.” Accessed Dec. 2, 2021.

  5. IRS. "401(k) Plan Overview." Accessed Dec. 2, 2021.

  6. IRS. “401(k) Plan Fix-It Guide - 401(k) Plan - Overview.” Accessed Dec. 2, 2021.

  7. IRS. ”401(k) Resource Guide - Plan Participants - Summary Plan Description.” Accessed Dec. 2, 2021.

  8. House Committee on Ways and Means. "The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (The SECURE Act)," Page 1. Accessed Dec. 2, 2021.

Related Articles