SEP-IRA contribution from K-1 income?

A business partner receives 1099 income from the firm. He also gets a K-1. The firm does not have a company retirement plan. Can the business partner contribute K-1 income into a SEP-IRA and take a deduction?

If so, must the other partners do the same?

Thank you!



  1. IRS regulation, “The partnership is considered to be the employer of each of the partners. Thus, an individual partner is not an employer who may establish a qualified plan with respect to his services to the partnership.”
  2. Even if the partnership had an employer retirement plan. Only compensation (self-employed earned income) can be the basis for retirement contributions. K-1 distributive share of the partnership’s profits are not compenssation eligible to be the basis for retirment contributions.
  3. Generally it is a violation of IRS rules and regulations to pay a partner as either a W-2 employee or an independent contractor. You need to be paid self-employed earned income as a partner on a K-1.
  4. Even if it was ok you and the partnership would be part of an Affiliated Service Group.

Who does this partnership have a as a tax professional that does not know these very baisc issues?



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