WASHINGTON — Low- and
moderate-income workers can take steps now to save for retirement and
earn a special tax credit in 2013 and the years ahead, according to the
Internal Revenue Service.
The saver’s credit helps offset
part of the first $2,000 workers voluntarily contribute to IRAs and to
401(k) plans and similar workplace retirement programs. Also known as
the retirement savings contributions credit, the saver’s credit is
available in addition to any other tax savings that apply.
Eligible workers still have time
to make qualifying retirement contributions and get the saver’s credit
on their 2013 tax return. People have until April 15, 2014,
to set up a new individual retirement arrangement or add money to an
existing IRA for 2013. However, elective deferrals (contributions) must
be made by the end of the year to a 401(k) plan or similar workplace
program, such as a 403(b) plan for employees of public schools and
certain tax-exempt organizations, a governmental 457 plan for state or
local government employees, and the Thrift Savings Plan for federal
employees. Employees who are unable to set aside money for this year may
want to schedule their 2014 contributions soon so their employer can
begin withholding them in January.
The saver’s credit can be claimed by:
- Married couples filing jointly with incomes up to $59,000 in 2013 or $60,000 in 2014;
- Heads of Household with incomes up to $44,250 in 2013 or $45,000 in 2014; and
- Married individuals filing separately and singles with incomes up to $29,500 in 2013 or $30,000 in 2014.
Like other tax credits, the
saver’s credit can increase a taxpayer’s refund or reduce the tax owed.
Though the maximum saver’s credit is $1,000, $2,000 for married couples,
the IRS cautioned that it is often much less and, due in part to the
impact of other deductions and credits, may, in fact, be zero for some
taxpayers.
A taxpayer’s credit amount is
based on his or her filing status, adjusted gross income, tax liability
and amount contributed to qualifying retirement programs. Form 8880 is used to claim the saver’s credit, and its instructions have details on figuring the credit correctly.
In tax-year 2011, the most recent
year for which complete figures are available, saver’s credits totaling
just over $1.1 billion were claimed on nearly 6.4 million individual
income tax returns. Saver’s credits claimed on these returns averaged
$215 for joint filers, $166 for heads of household and $128 for single
filers.
The saver’s credit supplements
other tax benefits available to people who set money aside for
retirement. For example, most workers may deduct their contributions to a
traditional IRA. Though Roth IRA contributions are not deductible,
qualifying withdrawals, usually after retirement, are tax-free.
Normally, contributions to 401(k) and similar workplace plans are not
taxed until withdrawn.
Other special rules that apply to the saver’s credit include the following:
- Eligible taxpayers must be at least 18 years of age.
- Anyone claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return cannot take the credit.
- A student cannot take the credit. A person enrolled as a full-time student during any part of 5 calendar months during the year is considered a student.
Certain retirement plan
distributions reduce the contribution amount used to figure the credit.
For 2013, this rule applies to distributions received after 2010 and
before the due date, including extensions, of the 2013 return. Form 8880
and its instructions have details on making this computation.
Begun in 2002 as a temporary
provision, the saver’s credit was made a permanent part of the tax code
in legislation enacted in 2006. To help preserve the value of the
credit, income limits are now adjusted annually to keep pace with
inflation.
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