IRS Increases Retirement Plan Contribution Limits

The Internal Revenue Service has increased the maximum pre-tax contribution limit for 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans, most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan by $500, from $16,500 to $17,000, as a result of cost-of-living adjustments.

The IRS noted Thursday that many of the pension plan limitations will change for 2012 because the increase in the cost-of-living index met the statutory thresholds that trigger their adjustment. However, other limitations will remain unchanged. 

The IRS said the catch-up contribution limit for those aged 50 and over remains unchanged at $5,500.

The Social Security Administration announced a COLA increase on Wednesday, giving beneficiaries a 3.6 percent increase in annual benefits, so the average retiree can expect an extra $512 in annual benefits in 2012, increasing on average from $14,232 to $14,744. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will increase to $110,100 from $106,800.  Of the estimated 161 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2012, approximately 10 million of them will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum, according to Social Security.

The IRS said the deduction for taxpayers making contributions to a traditional IRA is phased out for singles and heads of household who are covered by a workplace retirement plan and have modified adjusted gross incomes between $58,000 and $68,000, up from $56,000 and $66,000 in 2011. 

For married couples filing jointly, in which the spouse who makes the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the income phase-out range is $92,000 to $112,000, an increase from $90,000 to $110,000.  For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement plan and is married to someone who is covered, the deduction is phased out if the couple’s income is between $173,000 and $183,000, up from $169,000 and $179,000.

The AGI phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is $173,000 to $183,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $169,000 to $179,000 in 2011.  For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is $110,000 to $125,000, up from $107,000 to $122,000.  For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by a retirement plan at work, the phase-out range remains $0 to $10,000.

The AGI limit for the saver’s credit (also known as the retirement savings contributions credit) for low-and moderate-income workers is $57,500 for married couples filing jointly, up from $56,500 in 2011; $43,125 for heads of household, up from $42,375; and $28,750 for married individuals filing separately and for singles, up from $28,250.

For more information on the COLA changes, the IRS has provided a table here.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Tax practice Payroll Retirement planning
MORE FROM ACCOUNTING TODAY