Generally, you may choose to reduce your salary by any amount that does not exceed the lesser of two limitations: If you are 50 or older on December 31 of a given year, you can contribute an additional amount as follows: For example, employees who are age 50 or older by the end of the year can contribute $20,500 ($15,500 plus $5,000 catch-up) assuming they make at least $20,000 in salary that year.

Supplement Retirement Income - Most employees of educational institutions and other non-profit organizations are provided with a pension upon retirement. Few pension plans, however, provide an amount equal to salary. A 403(b) plan can provide a supplement to help close that gap. Lower Taxes - 403(b) contributions are made on a pre-tax basis which can greatly reduce your tax bill.

The government sets the standards as to how much money can be contributed into a 403(b). The maximum amount any individual under the age of 50 can contribute is $14,000 for the 2005 calendar year. Any individual age 50 or older may contribute up to $18,000 for the 2005 calendar year.

In order to meet nondiscrimination requirements of the law, once a plan sponsor permits any employee to elect a salary deferral into the 403(b), the opportunity must be extended to all employees of the organization. This is known as universal availability. However, certain employees may be excluded.

Yes. Your employer must agree to make contributions to your 403(b) in accordance with a salary reduction agreement. This is an agreement between the employer and employee under which the employee agrees to take a reduction in salary or to forego a salary increase and the employer contributes that amount to a 403(b) for that employee.

Yes. You may make salary reduction contributions to your 403(b), and make contributions to a SEP-IRA. However, SEP IRA contributions are generally made by an employer. Therefore, you will need to have income from self-employment or from another employer in order to have contributions made to a SEP IRA on your behalf.

Yes. The Roth IRA has Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitations. Singles earning up to $95,000 may contribute fully; ability to participate phases out at $110,000. Those filing jointly earning up to $150,000 may contribute fully; ability to participate for joint filers phases out at $160,000.

The 403b is a tax deferred retirement plan available to employees of educational institutions and certain non-profit organizations. Participants contribute to either annuity contracts with insurance companies, or to mutual funds with mutual fund companies. Contributions and investment earnings grow tax deferred until withdrawal (assumed to be retirement), at which time they are taxed as ordinary income. Withdrawals before age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.

Unfortunately we were not able to include supplemental retirement account (403(b) and/or 457) information on this year’s statement. We hope to include this information in the future. If currently enrolled, questions may be referred to company: http://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/retirement/sra_providers.cfm

Answer: IRS code section 403(b) allows all 501(c)(3) organizations, (churches, religious education organizations, health care, and charitable non-profit) to establish a pre-tax and tax-deferred employer sponsored retirement plan. The contributions may be made by just the employer, just the employee, or a combination of the two. *

Internal Revenue Code Section 403(b) authorizes a tax-sheltered retirement program using a payroll reduction system. It is designed to help employees of public schools, community colleges, state universities and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations such as hospitals, churches, private schools and colleges set aside money regularly toward their retirement.

Your distribution will be taxed as ordinary income in the year received. Amounts remaining in the account will continue to grow tax-deferred until distribution. Federal income tax withholding applies only when a distribution occurs or is deemed to occur. Therefore, in the case of a transfer or direct rollover, withholding does not apply. If you receive a distribution that is eligible to be rolled over from your 403(b) program, a 20% mandatory income tax withholding will apply.

Options at death depend on who the named beneficiary is, as well as whether or not the death occurred before or after the required beginning date for distribution (i.e., 70 1/2). Some examples of options are: CA CO CT FL GA IL IN LA MA MD MI MO NC NJ NY OK PA TX VA For more information contact Inquiries@ lincolninvestment.com