Know what to review before you renew, switch, or add benefits. Start with a short Snapshot.
Benefits Genius helps owner-run businesses organize payroll deduction questions, Section 125 status, renewal timing, and provider options before a broker, TPA, PEO, payroll provider, CPA, or benefits partner reviews the details.
Estimate your pre-tax savings
Drag the slider to size it for your business
Your company saves
$11,628 /yearYour employees save
$29,868 /year totalTotal annual savings
$41,496 /yearBased on $55K avg salary, 75% participation. Results vary.
Employer FICA
Up to 7.65%
on eligible pre-tax dollars
Employee Impact
Varies
by wages and elections
Federal law
1978
IRC §125
What we help organize
The facts worth getting straight before your next benefits decision
A Benefits Readiness Snapshot organizes these questions clearly. It is a review, not advice — a licensed advisor, TPA, or partner verifies the details.
Renewal timing
How much runway you have before the next decision, and what to ask before you accept, renegotiate, or compare.
Section 125 / pre-tax payroll deductions
Whether employee deductions are pre-tax and supported by a Section 125 plan document.
Broker / PEO / payroll / TPA path
Which provider path may be worth reviewing for the problem you are actually trying to solve before you pick one.
ICHRA / QSEHRA / group health questions
A clear look at the benefit structures worth reviewing for your size and situation.
Documentation questions
Which plan documents and payroll records are worth confirming before a partner reviews them.
First-time benefits setup
If you are offering benefits for the first time, a review of your options before you commit.
See the before & after
Watch how pre-tax payroll deductions can change the tax treatment of a sample paycheck. The example is educational; a licensed professional should verify the setup for any specific employer.
The review areas behind pre-tax benefits
Section 125 is one important review area. Payroll deductions, plan documents, renewal timing, and provider fit all matter before the next benefits decision.
Up to 7.65%
Employer-side FICA effect on eligible pre-tax dollars, subject to wage-base rules
$184.5K
2026 Social Security wage base. Wages under this base are generally Social Security-taxable
1978
Year Congress created Section 125. A long-standing pre-tax benefits framework
Most small businesses do not know what to review
Many owners are not sure whether deductions are pre-tax, whether a written plan document exists, whether renewal timing matters, or whether the broker/PEO/payroll/TPA path fits the problem they are trying to solve.
47 educational guides
Clear articles covering Section 125, FSAs, HSAs, compliance, and industry-specific guidance
5 free calculators
FICA savings, ROI, benefits comparison, savings estimator, and more. No account required
Professional review paths
Educational Snapshot intake can help organize facts before a licensed broker, TPA, PEO, payroll provider, CPA, or benefits partner reviews the details
Example: 50-employee company
$55K avg salary • 75% participation (38 employees) • $4,000 avg pre-tax deduction
38 employees × $4,000 × 7.65%
38 employees × $4,000 × 19.65% (7.65% FICA + 12% federal)
$4,000 × 19.65% effective rate
Educational example using current employer-side FICA assumptions and a sample 12% federal income tax bracket. Actual savings depend on salary, participation, wage-base treatment, payroll setup, and plan design. Run your own estimate →
Not sure what to review before your next benefits decision?
Start with a short Snapshot. We organize the facts before a broker, TPA, PEO, payroll provider, or benefits partner reviews the details.
Start a Benefits Readiness SnapshotHow it works
From confusion to an organized review path in four simple steps.
Start with Your Situation
Choose the path that matches your problem: payroll tax savings, renewal timing, provider comparison, first-time benefits, or documentation questions.
Estimate the Math
Use the calculator as an educational estimate, then decide whether a Snapshot should organize the facts for professional review.
Start a Snapshot
Share company size, timing, current setup, and review questions in a Benefits Readiness Snapshot.
Get Routed for Review
A licensed professional or partner verifies details, quotes, advice, compliance determinations, and implementation if a next step is appropriate.
Ready to organize your situation?
Start with a Benefits Readiness Snapshot so the right professional can review the facts with context instead of starting cold.
Tell us what is going on, and we will organize the review areas before any licensed partner conversation.
Start your Snapshot
Organize payroll deduction, renewal, provider, and plan-document questions before professional review.
Quick question? Ask Sarah.
Sarah can explain Section 125, FICA savings, and plan-document basics, then help you decide whether a Snapshot should organize the details.
What is Section 125?
Get a quick overview of how Section 125 pre-tax benefits work and why they matter for your business.
Built for owner-run businesses
Tools and guides that help owner-run businesses organize benefits questions before professional review.
Business Owners
Organize payroll tax, benefit setup, renewal, and provider questions before review.
Learn moreFree Savings Tools
Run your FICA savings and size up Section 125 for your business.
Learn moreSection 125 Guides
Plain-English answers on Section 125, FSAs, HSAs, and pre-tax benefits.
Learn moreFree tools. No account needed
Model the payroll-tax effect, then organize the facts for review before you make a benefits decision.
FICA Savings Calculator
Estimate employer and employee FICA tax savings based on your headcount.
Calculate nowSavings Estimator
Estimate total company-wide Section 125 savings across all benefit types.
Estimate nowROI Calculator
Model payback assumptions before reviewing plan design and implementation details.
Calculate ROILearn at your own pace
Clear guides on benefits, payroll tax, plan documents, and provider questions.
2026 FSA, HSA & Dependent Care FSA Limits
The 2026 IRS limits: health FSA $3,400, dependent care FSA $7,500, HSA $4,400 self-only / $8,750 family, with carryover rules and IRS sources.
How Much Does a Section 125 Plan Save?
Section 125 can save employers up to 7.65% FICA on eligible pre-tax dollars, and can save employees income tax plus FICA. See the 2026 employer and employee math.
Is a Section 125 Plan Worth It for a Trucking Company Your Size? A Straight Answer
A no-hype, decision-stage look at whether a Section 125 cafeteria plan makes sense for a small-to-midsize carrier: what it takes to set up, why only W-2 company drivers count, when the employer FICA savings outweigh the admin cost, and when it is not worth bothering.
Ready to organize your benefits questions?
Start with a Benefits Readiness Snapshot so the right professional can review your facts with context.
Disclaimer: The information on benefitsgenius.co is for educational purposes only and does not constitute insurance, tax, legal, or financial advice. Fixed indemnity insurance is supplemental coverage and does not satisfy ACA requirements for minimum essential coverage. Consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific situation.
