My shocking update is that I don't have to switch from a SIMPLE to SEP. I am adding the SEP to the tax deferred accounts.
My now insanely high list of tax deferred contributions looks like this:
SEP IRA employer contribution 25% tax free
SEP IRA employer contribution $22.7 tax free fed, state, and fica
2015 salary $90.9 Before H.S.A., SIMPLE, health insurance, and taxes
2015 simple employer match $2.7 required at 3%
2015 simple employee contribution $12.5 tax free fed and state. still have to pay fica.
2015 h.s.a. employee contribution $6.6 tax free fed, state, and fica
Total 2015 pay out from employer $116.4 Same as last year
So it's no skin off my employer's teeth: I just get to bring my taxable salary down from $113k to $72k. When tax time comes next year I'll decide if I should do a traditional or roth ira by what turbotax tells me.
The govt could do everyone a big favor by just picking one retirement account tax deferred amount for everyone regardless of employer sponsored plan, individual, self employed etc etc. We don't need this many options. Why can I only contribute $12.5k to my simple while my peers at seagate get to put away $17.5k?