A nonrefundable tax credit known as the Saver’s Credit may be available to low and middle-income savers who make contributions to eligible retirement savings plans, such as 403(b), 457(b) deferred compensation, 401(k) and IRA plans. The credit is claimed on an IRS Form 8880 with the individual’s income tax return, and will apply to the first $2,000 in savings contributions. The matching contribution will equal 50% of the first $2,000 contributed to eligible retirement accounts. Unlike the current Saver’s Credit, the percentage won’t change because of your income or filing status. The match (or credit if the match is applied against your tax liability) will also be “refundable” after 2026.

• The IRS offers an online tool to help determine if you are eligible for the credit.
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• However, recent survey findings have surfaced major disconnects among segments of this population.
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In fact, a recent survey conducted by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies revealed just one quarter of Americans with an annual household income of less than $50,000 are aware of the credit. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer or other company, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. All information, including rates and fees, are accurate as of the date of publication and are updated as provided by our partners. Some of the offers on this page may not be available through our website.

Advantages of the Saver’s Tax Credit

If you owed $500 and had a $700 tax credit, your tax bill would be zero. The value of the saver’s credit is calculated based on your contributions to a traditional or Roth IRA, 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, ABLE account, SARSEP, 403(b) or 457(b) plan. You may be eligible for 50%, 20% or 10% of the maximum https://turbo-tax.org/ contribution amount, depending on your filing status and adjusted gross income. The saver’s credit was the first major legislation focused on promoting tax-qualified retirement savings among low- to moderate-income workers. Starting in 2027, the phase-out ranges are adjusted and expanded, too.

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What is the saver’s credit?

A person with $33,000 in AGI (or a couple with $66,000 in AGI) may find it extremely difficult to save even $1,000. It’s not too late to save and get “credit” for doing so—make sure the participants you work with, and plan sponsors you work for—are aware. The IRS offers an interactive online tool to help you determine whether you qualify for the saver’s credit.

“Expansion of the Savers Credit is really targeted at helping low and moderate income persons to increase their savings for retirement,” says David Certner, legislative policy director at AARP. A deduction lowers your tax bill by reducing the income subject to tax. Then again, if you don’t owe any federal income tax, the credit won’t do you any good, because it isn’t refundable. Nor can you get a tax refund based only on the amount of the Saver’s Credit. “Saving for retirement can be difficult in the best of times, but even harder for many during the pandemic and challenging economy,” said Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of TCRS.

Retirement withdrawal strategies: 4 ways to help you extend your savings

“In 2020, just seven percent of taxpayers with adjusted gross income between $10,000 and $25,000 took the credit, and the average credit amount was just $178,” she says, citing IRS data. Census https://turbo-tax.org/what-is-the-saver-s-credit/ Bureau, 49% of adults age 55 to 66 had no retirement savings in 2017. In the years since, new policies like Secure Act 2.0 have tried to incentivize people to save more for retirement.

Determining how much you can save will help in deciding whether or not the tax credit is right for you. In addition to public policy efforts, we can all help promote the saver’s credit through a grassroots effort by telling our families, friends, and colleagues about it. By spreading the word, we can make a significant difference in people’s lives and in our community’s future well-being.

In 2001, Congress established a nonrefundable income tax credit for voluntary retirement savings contributions to 401(k) and other employer-sponsored retirement plans, and to IRAs (the “saver’s credit”). It applies to individuals whose adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed $50,000 a year (for those filing their federal income tax return jointly; $25,000 for single filers). “Nonrefundable” means the credit cannot exceed a person’s federal income tax for the year. The maximum credit is $1,000 for single tax filers and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly.

Among those earning less than $50,000 annually, just 41 percent knew about the credit. “The credit will have a smoother phase-out, be fully refundable, and be directly deposited into retirement accounts, hence the name will change to ‘saver’s match,’” says York. A special part of the tax code known as the Saver’s Credit provides a tax credit up to $2,000 to certain taxpayers saving for retirement.