irs

There’s Still Time to Contribute to Your IRA and Cut Your Taxes

As we approach the end of this year’s tax filing season, make sure you haven’t overlooked one of the best ways to cut your tax bill and secure your future — contributing to a traditional IRA. (There is no upfront tax break for funding a Roth IRA.)

  • SEE MORE SECURE Act 2.0: 14 Ways the Proposed Law Could Change Retirement Savings

You can make an IRA contribution for the 2021 tax year up until this year’s tax return filing deadline, which is April 18 for most people. That doesn’t leave much time, but if you have some extra income go ahead and deposit it into an IRA account today before time expires. (Just make sure the IRA administrator knows it’s for the 2021 tax year.)

And what about those tax savings? Well, depending on your income, you may be able to deduct your IRA contribution on your 2021 tax return. To contribute to a traditional IRA, you or your spouse must have earned income from a job. But, otherwise, you may be able to deduct contributions to an IRA even if you or your spouse are covered by another retirement plan at work. Plus, starting in 2020, seniors age 70½ and older with earned income can now contribute to a traditional IRA, too.

Here’s some more good news: The IRA deduction is an “above the line” deduction, meaning you don’t have to itemize your deductions to claim it. It will reduce your adjusted gross income (AGI) dollar-for-dollar, lowering your tax bill. And your lower AGI could make you eligible for other tax breaks, which are tied to income limits.

Who Qualifies for the IRA Deduction

If you’re single and don’t participate in a retirement plan at work, you can make a tax-deductible IRA contribution for 2021 of up to $6,000 ($7,000 if you’re 50 or older) regardless of your income. If you’re married and your spouse is covered by a workplace-based retirement plan but you’re not, you can deduct your full IRA contribution as long as your joint AGI doesn’t top $198,000 for 2021. You can take a partial tax deduction if your combined income is between $198,000 and $208,000.

  • SEE MORE Traditional IRA Contribution Limits for 2022

But even if you do participate in a retirement plan at work, you can still deduct up to the maximum $6,000 IRA contribution ($7,000 if you’re 50 or older) if you’re single and your 2021 income is $66,000 or less ($105,000 if married filing jointly). And you can deduct some of your IRA contribution if you’re single and your income is between $66,000 and $76,000, or if you’re married and your income is between $105,000 and $125,000.

Spouses with little or no earned income for 2021 can also make an IRA contribution of up to $6,000 ($7,000 if 50 or older) as long as their spouse has sufficient earned income to cover both contributions. The contribution is tax-deductible as long as your household income doesn’t exceed the limits for married couples filing jointly.

Double Tax Break with the Saver’s Credit

Some low- and moderate-income taxpayers get an extra tax break on their 2021 return for contributing to an IRA or other retirement account.

  • SEE MORE Saver’s Credit: A Retirement Tax Break for the Middle Class

In addition to the usual IRA deduction, you may qualify for a Retirement Savers tax credit of up to $1,000 ($2,000 for joint filers) for contributions to an IRA or other retirement tax plan. (A tax credit, which reduces your tax bill dollar-for-dollar, is more valuable than a deduction, which merely reduces the amount of income that is taxed.)

The actual amount of the credit depends on your income. It ranges from 10% to 50% of the first $2,000 contributed to an IRA or other retirement account. To be eligible, your 2021 income can’t exceed $33,000 if you’re single, $49,500 if you’re the head of a household with dependents, or $66,000 if you’re married filing jointly. The lower your income, the higher the credit. But you can’t claim the Retirement Savers credit if you’re under 18, a student, or can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.

File an Amended Return

What if you already filed your 2021 tax return? No problem – just file an amended tax return after April 18 to claim your new or increased tax breaks. You generally have three years from the date you filed your original return or two years from the date you paid any tax due to file an amended return (go with whichever date is later).

Use Form 1040-X to file an amended return. You can mail in a paper return or file electronically. We recommend e-filing your amended return, since it will be processed much faster. If you’re changing your IRA deduction, make sure you write “IRA deduction” and the amount of the increase or decrease in Part III of the form. Once you file an amended return, you can track its status online using the IRS’s “Where’s My Amended Return?” tool or by calling 866-464-2050.

  • SEE MORE Deposit Your Tax Refund Directly Into an IRA or Other Account – It’s Easy!

4 Student Loan Repayment Options — and How to Choose the Right One for You

Choosing a Student Loan Repayment Option It’s never too early to think about student loan repayment. Whether you just started college, or you recently graduated and are still in the ‘grace period’ before repayment, strategizing now may help you find a student loan repayment plan that works for you before making you make a single […]

The post 4 Student Loan Repayment Options — and How to Choose the Right One for You appeared first on SoFi.

How to Calculate Federal Income Tax – Rates Table & Tax Brackets

Learn more about how to calculate your federal income tax using rates tables. Find out which marginal tax bracket you fall under and adjust accordingly.

Claim Your 2018 Tax Refund Now – Or Lose It Forever

The IRS is looking for about 1.5 million people who didn’t file a 2018 tax return and who might be owed a refund of taxes that were withheld or otherwise prepaid. In fact, Uncle Sam has almost $1.5 billion of potential refunds waiting to be claimed. The median potential refund is estimated to be $813. Is any of that money yours?

Claim Your Refund By April 18

Act now if you think some of that cash could belong to you. In cases where a federal tax return was not filed, the taxpayer generally has a three-year window of opportunity to claim a refund. That means you must file your 2018 tax return with the IRS no later than this year’s tax filing deadline to collect the money. For most people, that’s April 18 (April 19 for residents of Main or Massachusetts). If you don’t file a 2018 return in time, the U.S. Treasury gets the money and you’re out of luck.

Missing W-2 and Other 2018 Tax Forms?

If you’re missing W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 forms from 2018, try getting copies from your employer, bank or other payer. If that doesn’t work, you can go on the IRS website and order a free wage and income transcript or request one by filing Form 4506-T. The transcript will show data from information returns received by the IRS. This information can be used to file your 2018 tax return.

  • SEE MORE Where’s My Refund? How to Track Your Tax Refund Status

What If You Have a Tax Debt or Didn’t File Other Returns?

The IRS could hold your 2018 refund check if you didn’t file a 2019 or 2020 return, either. In addition, the IRS may also apply your 2018 refund to any federal or state taxes you owe for other years — or to offset unpaid child support or past due federal debts, such as student loans.

Eligibility for 2018 Earned Income Tax Credit

By filing a 2018 tax return, many low- and moderate-income workers may also be eligible for the earned income tax credit for that year. The credit was worth as much as $6,431 for 2018. The credit helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds. The thresholds for 2018 were:

  • $49,194 ($54,884 if married filing jointly) for people with three or more qualifying children;
  • $45,802 ($51,492 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children;
  • $40,320 ($46,010 if married filing jointly) for people with one qualifying child; and
  • $15,270 ($20,950 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.
  • SEE MORE 7 Money-Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund

Should I Put My Bonus Into My 401k? Here’s What You Should Consider

If you’re wondering what to do with bonus money, you’re not alone. Investing your bonus money in a tax-advantaged retirement account like a 401(k) has some tangible advantages. Not only will the extra cash help your nest egg to grow, you could also see some potential tax benefits. Of course, we live in a world […]

The post Should I Put My Bonus Into My 401k? Here’s What You Should Consider appeared first on SoFi.

How to File Your Taxes for Uber, Lyft and Other Popular Gig Apps

Tax Day 2022 is closing in, and the burden for gig workers is a little heavier because you’re considered independent contractors — not employees — of the popular app-based companies you work for. After two years of filing extensions because of the pandemic, we’ve returned to a more familiar April deadline. The deadline to file […]

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.