SEP IRA contribution limit for the self-employed, 2025

This works out one number from the SEP IRA Contribution Limit figures published for 2025. Every amount it uses is below, with the document it was read from. What you enter is your own: this site has no way to check it, and the answer it produces is not a published figure.

Not the one you need? The same year also has SEP IRA contribution limit for employees.

Defined contribution limit$70,000
Share of net earnings, self-employed20%

Effective 2025-01-01Source: Notice 2024-80 (IRS)Verified 2026-09-03

Share of employee compensation, Share of net earnings, self-employedSource: Publication 560 (2025), Retirement Plans for Small Business (IRS)Verified 2026-09-03

How it is worked out

The published share of the amount you enter, or the published dollar limit, whichever is the lower of the two, rounded to the nearest cent.

It uses Share of net earnings, self-employed, 20% and Defined contribution limit, $70,000, published above.

Figures in this colour are computed from the amounts above. They are not published figures and no document states them.

Work it out

The live calculator needs JavaScript. The table below covers common amounts and is computed the same way.

Worked out for common amounts

Net earnings from self-employment, after your deduction for one-half of self-employment taxResult
50,000$10,000
100,000$20,000
250,000$50,000
400,000$70,000
How each figure was verified

Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.

Notice 2024-80 (IRS)

Defined contribution limit
The limitation for defined contribution plans under section 415(c)(1)(A) is increased in 2025 from $69,000 to $70,000.
  • Fetched 2026-08-27T13:23:33.257Z
  • Verified 2026-09-03
  • Stored text sha256 e1ceed9c8ffc6a845a58c841c5abbb13297c02441ff8757f48ce4537afc762a4

Publication 560 (2025), Retirement Plans for Small Business (IRS)

Share of net earnings, self-employed
The deduction for annual employer contributions (other than elective deferrals) to a SEP plan, a profit-sharing plan, or a money purchase pension plan can't be more than 20% of your net earnings (figured without deducting contributions for yourself) from the business that has the plan.
  • Fetched 2026-08-29T04:42:56.742Z
  • Verified 2026-09-03
  • Stored text sha256 a0f10ca7567acf2e701566b47e359f5c62733e6bd179d2f270639ecce5adebff

Every 2025 SEP IRA Contribution Limit figure · SEP IRA Contribution Limit in every year · Every calculator on this site

The same calculator for another year: 2026, 2024