eligible employer maintaining an automatic IRA arrangement meeting the requirements of section 408B (without regard to whether the employer is required to maintain the arrangement), the small employer automatic IRA arrangement credit determined under this section for any taxable year is the amount determined under subsection (b). (b) Amount of credit (1) In general The amount of the credit determined under this section for any taxable year with respect to an eligible employer shall be the sum of— (A) $25 multiplied by the number of qualifying employees (within the meaning of section 408B(c)) for whom contributions are made under the automatic IRA arrangement referred to in subsection (a) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, plus (B) $500 for the taxable year which begins in the first calendar year, and $250 for the taxable year which begins in the second calendar year, in which the eligible employer maintains an automatic IRA arrangement meeting the requirements of section 408B. (2) Limitation No more than 10 qualifying employees may be taken into account under paragraph (1)(A) for a taxable year. (3) Duration of credit The credit described in paragraph (1)(A) shall apply only for a taxable year which begins in the first 6 calendar years in which the eligible employer maintains an automatic IRA arrangement meeting the requirements of section 408B. (4) Coordination with small employer startup credit (A) No credit shall be allowed under this section to the employer for any taxable year if a credit is determined under section 45E with respect to the employer for the taxable year. (B) If the eligible employer maintains an automatic IRA arrangement meeting the requirements of section 408B with respect to any of the first three calendar years for which the employer could adopt such an arrangement and subsequently adopts an eligible employer plan for its employees for any of those years which it maintains for such third taxable year, then section 45E(b)(1) shall be applied with respect to the