A “SOLO-k” is a 401k retirement plan for a business with no employees except the owner and, if applicable, the owner’s spouse. The rules are the same as for a traditional 401k except that no annual reporting is required with the IRS until the balance of the plan (not account) reaches $250k. When the plan balance reaches/exceeds this limit, the employer can file an annual 5500-EZ, which is much simpler than the long-form 5500.
Moonlighting income reported on a 1099 is often used to set up a SOLO-k. If you own less than 80% of your main employer, you can open the SOLO-k as a second retirement account and contribute up to $53k ($59k if age 50+) in 2016. You must set up the plan by December 31 and can fund it up to the due date of filing your personal tax return, including extensions.
