Uncle Sam Wants You To Save For Retirement

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(NAPS)—If you ever feel your finances are too stretched to save for retirement, you’re not alone— and there could be good news for you. The Saver’s Credit—a little-known tax credit made available by the IRS to low- to moderate-income workers—could make saving for retirement more affordable than you think. It may reduce your federal income taxes when you save for retirement through a qualified retirement plan or an individual retirement account (IRA).

“The Saver’s Credit is a fantastic tax credit because it may help you reduce your tax bill while saving for retirement. It offers eligible workers an added incentive to save for retirement on top of the benefits of tax-deferred savings when they contribute to a 401(k), 403(b) or IRA,” says Catherine Collinson, president of nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies^®.

Here’s how it works:

Check Your Eligibility

Depending on your filing status and income level, you may qualify for a nonrefundable credit of up to $1,000 (or $2,000 if filing jointly) on your federal income taxes for that year when you contribute to a 401(k), 403(b) or similar retirement plan, an IRA or myRA.

Single filers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of up to $30,500 in 2015 or $30,750 in 2016 are eligible. For the head of a household, the AGI limit is $45,750 in 2015 or $46,125 in 2016. For those who are married and file a joint return, the AGI limit is $61,000 in 2015 or $61,500 in 2016.

You must be 18 years or older by January 1 and cannot be a full-time student or be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return. If you fit within these parameters, the Saver’s Credit may be for you.

Save for Retirement

Save for retirement in your employer’s retirement plan, if offered, or in an IRA. In general, for every dollar you contribute to a qualified retirement plan or IRA (up to the lesser of the limits permitted by an employer-sponsored plan or the IRS), you defer that amount from your current overall taxable income on your federal tax returns—and you may also qualify for the Saver’s Credit.

File Your Tax Return and Claim the Credit

When you prepare your federal tax returns, you can claim your Saver’s Credit by subtracting this tax credit from your federal income taxes owed.

Most workers who are eligible to claim the Saver’s Credit are also eligible to take advantage of the IRS Free File program for taxpayers with an AGI of $62,000 or less. Thirteen commercial software companies make their tax preparation software available for free through the Free File program at www.irs.gov/FreeFile.

If you are using tax preparation software, including those offered through the IRS Free File program at www.irs.gov, use Form 1040, Form 1040A or Form 1040NR. If your software has an interview process, be sure to answer questions about the Saver’s Credit, also referred to as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit and/or Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions.
If you are preparing your tax returns manually, complete Form 8880, the Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions, to determine your exact credit rate and amount. Then transfer the amount to the designated line on Form 1040, Form 1040A or 1040NR.
If you are using a professional tax preparer, be sure to ask about the Saver’s Credit.
Consider having any refund you receive directly deposited to an IRA to further boost your retirement savings.

******Please note that the Saver’s Credit is not available with Form 1040EZ.

The 16th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey found that just 25 percent of American workers with annual household incomes of less than $50,000 are aware that the credit exists. Don’t overlook Uncle Sam’s Saver’s Credit; it may help you pay less in your current federal income taxes while saving for retirement.

For more details on the Saver’s Credit and online retirement planning calculators, visit the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies^® at www.transamericacenter.org or www.irs.gov.

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Cynthia Lopinto

Cyn LoPinto, M.A. is a gerontologist focusing on significant issues affecting older adults and their families. Her areas of interest include lifestyle enrichment, family dynamics, and caregiver support. Cyn has worked in both the recreational and healthcare industries.