The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that it’s not too late to contribute to an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) and still claim it on a 2017 tax return. Anyone with an IRA may be eligible for a tax credit or deduction on their 2017 tax return if they make contributions by April 17, 2018.
An IRA is designed to enable employees and the self-employed to save for retirement. Most taxpayers who work are eligible to start a traditional or Roth IRA, or add money to an existing account.
Contributions to a traditional IRA are often tax deductible, but distributions are generally taxable. Contributions to a Roth IRA are not deductible, but qualified distributions are tax-free. To count for a 2017 tax return, contributions must be made by April 17, 2018. In addition, low- and moderate-income taxpayers making these contributions may also qualify for the Saver’s Credit.
More on IRAs
Generally, eligible taxpayers can contribute up to $5,500 to an IRA. The limit is increased to $6,500 for someone who was 50 years of age or older at the end of 2017. The same general contribution limit applies to both Roth and traditional IRAs. However, a Roth IRA contribution might be limited based on filing status and income. An individual can’t make regular contributions to a traditional IRA in the year they reach 70½ and older. However, they can still contribute to a Roth IRA and make rollover contributions to a Roth or traditional IRA regardless of age.
If neither the taxpayer nor their spouse was covered for any part of the year by an employer retirement plan, they can take a deduction for total contributions to one or more traditional IRAs up to the contribution limit or 100 percent of the taxpayer’s compensation, whichever is less.
For 2017, if a taxpayer is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the deduction for contributions to a traditional IRA is generally reduced if the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income is between:
- $0 and $10,000; married filing separately
- $62,000 and $72,000; single and head of household
- $99,000 to $119,000; married filing jointly or a qualifying widow(er)
- $186,000 to $196,000; married filing jointly where the IRA contributor is not covered by a workplace retirement plan but is married to someone who is covered
The deduction for contributions to a traditional IRA is claimed on Form 1040, Line 32, or Form 1040A, Line 17. Any nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA must be reported on Form 8606.
Even though contributions to Roth IRAs are not tax deductible, the maximum permitted amount of these contributions is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is above a certain level:
- $0 to $10,000; married filing separately
- $118,000 to $133,000; single and head of household
- $186,000 to $196,000; married filing jointly
For detailed information on contributing to either Roth or Traditional IRAs, including worksheets for determining contribution and deduction amounts, see Publication 590-A, available on IRS.gov.
Saver’s Credit
Also known as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, the Saver’s Credit is often available to IRA contributors whose adjusted gross income falls below certain levels. Eligible taxpayers get the credit even if they qualify for other retirement-related tax benefits. Like other tax credits, the Saver’s Credit can increase a taxpayer’s refund or reduce the taxes they owe. The amount of the credit is based on several factors, including the amount contributed to either a Roth or traditional IRA and other qualifying retirement programs.
For 2017, the income limit is:
- $31,000; single and married filing separate
- $46,500; head of household
- $62,000; married filing jointly
Taxpayers should use Form 8880 to claim the Saver’s Credit, and its instructions have details on figuring the credit correctly.
If you have questions about an IRA contribution for the 2017 tax year, please contact Dennis Davis at ABG Southwest, a sister company of REDW LLC. ABG Southwest is also member-owner of Alliance Benefit Group LLC (ABG), a national organization of retirement plan, health and welfare consulting and benefit administration firms.
