Solo 401(k) for Real Estate Agents
As a 1099 agent, nobody is setting up retirement for you. A Solo 401(k) lets you defer taxes on a meaningful chunk of commission income — but the limits depend on how much you actually earn and whether you contribute as an employee, as the employer, or both. This guide breaks down the rules and gives you a quick limit estimate.
Solo 401(k) Contribution Limit Calculator
Use net commission income after brokerage splits, overhead, and deductible business expenses — similar to Schedule C net profit.
Even monthly pace to hit the total cap: $3,900/mo. Employer limits use the self-employed 25% formula after SE tax adjustment — confirm with your plan administrator.
Why agents look at Solo 401(k) plans
Real estate income is lumpy — big checks a few times a year, not a steady W-2 paycheck. That makes retirement easy to postpone. A Solo 401(k) is designed for self-employed people with no full-time employees, which describes most independent agents and single-member LLCs.
Unlike a workplace 401(k), you wear two hats: you can defer income as the employee and make profit-sharing contributions as the employer. That combination is why Solo 401(k) limits often beat a SEP IRA at the same income level.
2025–2026 IRS limits at a glance
| Limit type | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Employee deferral | $23,500 | $24,500 |
| Catch-up (age 50+) | $7,500 | $8,000 |
| Section 415 combined cap | $70,000 | $71,000 |
| Employer profit-sharing | Up to ~25% of adjusted net self-employment income | Same formula; depends on your profit |
How profit affects your employer contribution room
Employee deferrals are mostly a fixed IRS ceiling (plus catch-up). Employer profit-sharing is tied to your net self-employment income. The IRS uses a circular calculation: self-employment tax is computed on 92.35% of profit, then employer contributions are based on profit minus half of that SE tax.
For agents, a practical proxy is net commission income after brokerage splits, overhead, and deductible business expenses — similar to what you would report on Schedule C. Higher profit generally means more employer room, up to the annual cap.
Solo 401(k) vs SEP IRA for realtors
- Solo 401(k): Employee deferrals + employer contributions. Higher total potential at many income levels. More setup and annual compliance (Form 5500-EZ may apply once assets exceed IRS thresholds).
- SEP IRA: Employer-only contributions (typically 25% of compensation). Simpler to administer, but no employee deferral bucket.
- When agents choose Solo 401(k): Strong earning years, desire to max retirement savings, and willingness to track contributions through the year.
When to contribute during a commission year
Many agents make employee deferrals when cash is available — after closings — rather than on a fixed payroll schedule. Employer contributions are often calculated after you know full-year profit. A simple pacing approach: divide remaining employee deferral room by months left in the year, or target a percentage of each commission check (for example 10–20% of net) so retirement does not get skipped during busy seasons.
Related: Quarterly estimated taxes for real estate agents and commission check tax reserve calculator.
Track limits from your real commission ledger
MyAgentCommissions includes an opt-in Solo 401(k) planner on your dashboard — limits from your closed deals, overhead, and write-offs, plus a contribution log and estimated tax impact on your take-home waterfall.