Claiming the Saver’s Credit on Your Tax Return
Save Twice with the Saver’s Credit, on Your Tax Return
If you are a low-to-moderate income worker, you can save two ways for the same amount. With the saver’s credit, you can save for your retirement and save on your taxes with this special tax credit.
If you contribute to a 401(k), traditional or Roth IRA, 403(b), 457 or other retirement plan, you may be eligible for what’s formally known as the “Retirement Savings Contributions Credit”. The credit can be worth $200 to $1,000 per person, depending on your income (couples earning more than $62,000 and single filers earning more than $31,000 are ineligible). Knowing that you’re eligible for the credit might encourage you to save a little more.
The credit is worth 10% to 50% of the first $2,000 you contribute to the retirement plan for the year. You can claim the top 50% credit if your adjusted gross income in 2017 is less than $37,000 if married filing jointly, $27,750 if filing as head of household, or $18,500 for single filers. The credit is worth 20% of your contribution if you earn $37,001 to $40,000 if married filing jointly, $27,751 to $30,000 if filing as head of household, or $18,501 to $20,000 for single filers And you can qualify for a 10% credit if your income is $40,001 to $62,000 if married filing jointly, $30,001 to $46,500 for head of household, or $20,001 to $31,000 for single filers. You can’t claim the credit if you earn more than that.
You must be 18 or older to be eligible, not a full-time student for five months or more of the year, and not claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.
To claim the credit, file IRS Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions, with your tax return. For more information, see the IRS’s Retirement Savings Contributions Credit factsheet.
At TaxProblemSolver.com, we’re always here to help you make the most of your tax breaks. If you have any questions, email me at larry@taxproblemsolver.com and I, or one of my Tax Problem Solver Team, will help you with whatever’s going on. Taxes should work for us rather than the other way around! Here’s to your savings!
About the Author Larry Heinkel J.D. LL.M
Larry Heinkel is a tax and bankruptcy attorney with more than 38 years experience helping businesses and individuals, solve their state and federal tax problems. Mr. Heinkel has been extremely successful in representing his clients before IRS and DOR, and is known throughout Florida as an expert in tax problem resolution.
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