Handling SEP IRA Balances in QuickBooks: Accounting and Tax Considerations After Converting from Sole Proprietorship to S-Corp
A former sole proprietor, after converting to an S-Corp, has questions about handling SEP IRA balances: Should the SEP IRA held in their personal name be transferred to the company books? How should debits/credits be recorded? Should the account name be changed? Based on current rules, this article analyzes the classification of assets/liabilities, the accounting treatment of year-end accrued unpaid contributions, and points out that personal retirement assets typically should not appear on the company's financial statements.
I was originally a sole proprietor and had been making SEP IRA contributions from my personal account. Later, I converted to an S-Corp. My question is: Must I "transfer" the SEP IRA balance to the company's balance sheet? If so, what is the best practice?
For example, should I make the following journal entry:
- Debit: SEP IRA (Other Asset)
- Credit: Opening Balance Equity or a "Contribution" account?
Since the SEP IRA was established in my personal name (when I was a sole proprietor), do I need to change the name of the SEP IRA to my S-Corp's name, or can I keep it as is and continue making contributions?
On my balance sheet, should the SEP IRA be listed as an "Other Asset" while also being a "Liability"? If correct, then in certain cases (e.g., at year-end), I would accrue the employer contribution but not actually transfer the funds yet (since the contribution can be paid by the company's tax filing deadline). In that case, should I set up two different liability accounts? One for "Undeposited Contributions" and another for "Liability to Employees"?
Or, am I doing this completely wrong—should the SEP IRA remain in my personal records and not appear as an asset or liability on the company's balance sheet and tax return?
I hope my explanation is clear enough.