Retirement savings
Allowance of deduction
Maximum amount of deduction
In general
The amount allowable as a deduction under subsection (a) to any individual for any taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of—
the deductible amount, or
an amount equal to the compensation includible in the individual’s gross income for such taxable year.
Special rule for employer contributions under simplified employee pensions
Plans under section 501(c)(18)
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the amount allowable as a deduction under subsection (a) with respect to any contributions on behalf of an employee to a plan described in section 501(c)(18) shall not exceed the lesser of—
$7,000, or
an amount equal to 25 percent of the compensation (as defined in section 415(c)(3)) includible in the individual’s gross income for such taxable year.
Special rule for simple retirement accounts
Deductible amount
For purposes of paragraph (1)(A)—
In general
Catch-up contributions for individuals 50 or older
In general
Applicable amount
Cost-of-living adjustment
In general
In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2008, the $5,000 amount under subparagraph (A) shall be increased by an amount equal to—
such dollar amount, multiplied by
the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting “calendar year 2007” for “calendar year 1992” in subparagraph (B) thereof.
Rounding rules
Kay Bailey Hutchison Spousal IRA
In general
In the case of an individual to whom this paragraph applies for the taxable year, the limitation of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) shall be equal to the lesser of—
the dollar amount in effect under subsection (b)(1)(A) for the taxable year, or
the sum of—
the compensation includible in such individual’s gross income for the taxable year, plus
the compensation includible in the gross income of such individual’s spouse for the taxable year reduced by—
the amount allowed as a deduction under subsection (a) to such spouse for such taxable year,
the amount of any designated nondeductible contribution (as defined in section 408(o)) on behalf of such spouse for such taxable year, and
the amount of any contribution on behalf of such spouse to a Roth IRA under section 408A for such taxable year.
Individuals to whom paragraph (1) applies
Paragraph (1) shall apply to any individual if—
such individual files a joint return for the taxable year, and
the amount of compensation (if any) includible in such individual’s gross income for the taxable year is less than the compensation includible in the gross income of such individual’s spouse for the taxable year.
Other limitations and restrictions
Beneficiary must be under age 70½
Recontributed amounts
Amounts contributed under endowment contract
Denial of deduction for amount contributed to inherited annuities or accounts
Qualified retirement contribution
For purposes of this section, the term “qualified retirement contribution” means—
any amount paid in cash for the taxable year by or on behalf of an individual to an individual retirement plan for such individual’s benefit, and
any amount contributed on behalf of any individual to a plan described in section 501(c)(18).
Other definitions and special rules
Compensation
Married individuals
Time when contributions deemed made
Repealed. Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(39)(A), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4043]
Employer payments
Excess contributions treated as contribution made during subsequent year for which there is an unused limitation
In general
If for the taxable year the maximum amount allowable as a deduction under this section for contributions to an individual retirement plan exceeds the amount contributed, then the taxpayer shall be treated as having made an additional contribution for the taxable year in an amount equal to the lesser of—
the amount of such excess, or
the amount of the excess contributions for such taxable year (determined under section 4973(b)(2) without regard to subparagraph (C) thereof).
Amount contributed
For purposes of this paragraph, the amount contributed—
shall be determined without regard to this paragraph, and
shall not include any rollover contribution.
Special rule where excess deduction was allowed for closed year
Special rule for compensation earned by members of the Armed Forces for service in a combat zone.
Election not to deduct contributions
Limitation on deduction for active participants in certain pension plans
In general
Amount of reduction
In general
The amount determined under this paragraph with respect to any dollar limitation shall be the amount which bears the same ratio to such limitation as—
the excess of—
the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for such taxable year, over
the applicable dollar amount, bears to
$10,000 ($20,000 in the case of a joint return).
No reduction below $200 until complete phase-out
Rounding
Adjusted gross income; applicable dollar amount
For purposes of this subsection—
Adjusted gross income
Adjusted gross income of any taxpayer shall be determined—
after application of sections 86 and 469, and
without regard to sections 135, 137, 199, 221, 222, and 911 or the deduction allowable under this section.
Applicable dollar amount
The term “applicable dollar amount” means the following:
In the case of a taxpayer filing a joint return, $80,000.
In the case of any other taxpayer (other than a married individual filing a separate return), $50,000.
In the case of a married individual filing a separate return, zero.
Special rule for married individuals filing separately and living apart
A husband and wife who—
file separate returns for any taxable year, and
live apart at all times during such taxable year,
shall not be treated as married individuals for purposes of this subsection.
Active participant
For purposes of this subsection, the term “active participant” means, with respect to any plan year, an individual—
who is an active participant in—
a plan described in section 401(a) which includes a trust exempt from tax under section 501(a),
an annuity plan described in section 403(a),
a plan established for its employees by the United States, by a State or political subdivision thereof, or by an agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing,
an annuity contract described in section 403(b),
a simplified employee pension (within the meaning of section 408(k)), or
any simple retirement account (within the meaning of section 408(p)), or
who makes deductible contributions to a trust described in section 501(c)(18).
The determination of whether an individual is an active participant shall be made without regard to whether or not such individual’s rights under a plan, trust, or contract are nonforfeitable. An eligible deferred compensation plan (within the meaning of section 457(b)) shall not be treated as a plan described in subparagraph (A)(iii).
Certain individuals not treated as active participants
For purposes of this subsection, any individual described in any of the following subparagraphs shall not be treated as an active participant for any taxable year solely because of any participation so described:
Members of reserve components
Volunteer firefighters
A volunteer firefighter—
who is a participant in a plan described in subparagraph (A)(iii) of paragraph (5) based on his activity as a volunteer firefighter, and
whose accrued benefit as of the beginning of the taxable year is not more than an annual benefit of $1,800 (when expressed as a single life annuity commencing at age 65).
Special rule for spouses who are not active participants
If this subsection applies to an individual for any taxable year solely because their spouse is an active participant, then, in applying this subsection to the individual (but not their spouse)—
the applicable dollar amount under paragraph (3)(B)(i) shall be $150,000; and
the amount applicable under paragraph (2)(A)(ii) shall be $10,000.
Inflation adjustment
In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2006, each of the dollar amounts in paragraphs (3)(B)(i), (3)(B)(ii), and (7)(A) shall each 2
such dollar amount, multiplied by
the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting “calendar year 2005” for “calendar year 1992” in subparagraph (B) thereof.
Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1,000.
Source
(Added Pub. L. 93–406, title II, § 2002(a)(1),Notes
Inflation Adjusted Items for Certain Years
Prior Provisions
Amendments
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Effective Date of 2001 Amendment
Effective Date of 2000 Amendment
Effective Date of 1998 Amendments
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
A taxpayer may elect to have the amendment made by paragraph (1) apply to any taxable year beginning in 1987.”
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
In general.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 402, 404, 408, 415, 3121, and 3306 of this title] shall apply to years beginning after
Integration rules.—
Subparagraphs (D) and (E) of section 408(k)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (as in effect before the amendments made by this section) shall continue to apply for years beginning after
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
In general.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 408 of this title] shall apply to contributions made after
Subsection (b).—
The amendment made by subsection (b) [amending section 6693 of this title] shall apply to failures occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
In general.—
Except as provided in this subsection, the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 62, 72, 402, 403, 408, 409, 415, 2039, 2503, 2517, 3401, 4973, 6047, and 6652 of this title and repealing section 220 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
Transitional rule.—
For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954], any amount allowed as a deduction under section 220 of such Code (as in effect before its repeal by this Act) shall be treated as if it were allowed by section 219 of such Code.
Certain bond rollover provisions.—
The amendment made by subsection (g)(3) [amending section 409 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
Section 415 amendments.—
The amendments made by subsections (g)(4) and (h)(3) [amending section 415 of this title] shall apply to years after
Estate and gift tax provisions.—
Estate tax.—
The amendments made by subsections (d)(1) and (h)(4) [amending section 2039 of this title] shall apply to the estates of decedents dying after
Gift tax.—
The amendments made by subsections (d)(2) and (h)(5) [amending sections 2503 and 2517 of this title] shall apply to transfers after
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Effective Date
Contributions for Taxable Years Ending Before May 29, 2006
In general.—
In the case of any taxpayer with respect to whom compensation was excluded from gross income under section 112 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any taxable year beginning after
Waiver of limitations.—
Credit or refund.—
If the credit or refund of any overpayment of tax resulting from a contribution to which paragraph (1) applies is prevented at any time by the operation of any law or rule of law (including res judicata), such credit or refund may nevertheless be allowed or made if the claim therefor is filed before the close of the 1-year period beginning on the date that such contribution is made (determined without regard to paragraph (1)).
Assessment of deficiency.—
The period for assessing a deficiency attributable to a contribution to which paragraph (1) applies shall not expire before the close of the 3-year period beginning on the date that such contribution is made. Such deficiency may be assessed before the expiration of such 3-year period notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or rule of law which would otherwise prevent such assessment.
Individual retirement plan defined.—
For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘individual retirement plan’ has the meaning given such term by section 7701(a)(37) of such Code.”
Clarification of Treatment of Federal Judges
General Rule.—
A Federal judge—
shall be treated as an active participant in a plan established for its employees by the United States for purposes of section 219(g) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and
shall be treated as an employee for purposes of chapter 1 of such Code.
Effective Date.—
The provisions of subsection (a) shall apply to taxable years beginning after