The Clock is Ticking on Maxing Out Your 2014 Retirement Plan Contributions

With the end of 2014 fast approaching, now is the time to take a look at your year-to-date retirement plan contributions to see where yours stand when compared with the 2014 contribution limits.

Summary of 2014 Retirement Plan Contributions Limits

Depending on how much you’ve already contributed, you may be able to contribute more to your retirement plan for 2014.

To help you determine whether you need to make some additional contributions, here is a summary of the 2014 retirement plan contributions limits. Please remember that some types of accounts require contributions before December 31, whereas other types of accounts allow contributions up to the April deadline for filing your tax return. Contact us now so we can offer you specific guidance about your account.

• The contribution limit for employees under age 50 who participate in a deferred contribution plan (401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, or the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan) is $17,500. These plans generally require contributions to be made on or before December 31.

• The contribution limit for employees age 50 and over who participate in a deferred contribution plan (401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, or the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan) is $23,000. These plans generally require contributions to be made on or before December 31.

• The contribution limit for employees under age 50 who participate in a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (known as a SIMPLE plan) is $12,000.  These plans generally require “employee” contributions to be made on or before December 31 and permit “employer” contributions to be made up to the filing deadline of your tax return on April 15.

• The contribution limit for employees age 50 and over who participate in a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (known as a SIMPLE plan) is $14,500. These plans generally require “employee” contributions to be made before December 31 and permit “employer” contributions to be made up to the filing deadline of your tax return on April 15.

• The contribution limit for a Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account (i.e., SEP IRA) or Solo 401(k) is the lesser of (a) $52,000, or (b) 25% of the employee’s salary, and the compensation limit used in the savings calculation is $260,000. These plans generally permit contributions up to the filing deadline of your tax return on April 15.

• The contribution limit for individuals under age 50 to a traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is $5,500.  These plans generally permit contributions up to the filing deadline of your tax return on April 15.

• The contribution limit for individuals age 50 and over to a traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is $6,500.  These plans generally permit contributions up to the filing deadline of your tax return on April 15.

• While contributions to IRAs that apply to the 2014 tax year can be made up until April 15, 2015, the time is now to make contributions so that you can maximize your earnings inside the account.

• Before you make any contributions to a Roth IRA, make sure you’re not subject to the adjusted gross income (AGI) phase-out. If your income is greater than AGI phase-out amount for your filing status, then you’re not eligible to make contributions to a Roth IRA. The AGI phase-out amounts for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is $181,000 to $191,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly; $114,000 to $129,000 for single taxpayers and head of household taxpayers; and for a married taxpayer filing a separate return, the phase-out is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and is therefore $0 to $10,000. We can help you determine which phase-out, if any, applies to your situation.

 To comply with the U.S. Treasury regulations, we must inform you that (i) any U.S. federal tax advice contained in  this newsletter  was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal tax  penalties that may  be imposed on such person and (ii) each taxpayer should seek advice from their tax adviser based on the taxpayer’s  particular circumstances.