The maximum amount you can contribute to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA in 2013 increases to $5,500 (or 100% of your earned income, if less), up from $5,000 in 2012. The maximum catch-up contribution for those age 50 or older remains at $1,000. (You can contribute to both a traditional and Roth IRA in 2013, but your total contributions can’t exceed this annual limit.)
Traditional IRA deduction limits for 2013
The income limits for determining the deductibility of traditional IRA contributions have also increased for 2013 (for those covered by employer retirement plans). For example, you can fully deduct your IRA contribution if your filing status is single/head of household, and your income (“modified adjusted gross income,” or MAGI) is $59,000 or less (up from $58,000 in 2012). If you’re married and filing a joint return, you can fully deduct your IRA contribution if your MAGI is $95,000 or less (up from $92,000 in 2012). If you’re not covered by an employer plan but your spouse is, and you file a joint return, you can fully deduct your IRA contribution if your MAGI is $178,000 or less (up from $173,000 in 2012).
| If your 2013 federal income tax filing status is: | Your IRA deduction is reduced if your MAGI is between: | Your deduction is eliminated if your MAGI is: |
| Single or head of household | $59,000 and $69,000 | $69,000 or more |
| Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)* | $95,000 and $115,000 (combined) | $115,000 or more (combined) |
| Married filing separately | $0 and $10,000 | $10,000 or more |
*If you’re not covered by an employer plan but your spouse is, your deduction is limited if your MAGI is $178,000 to $188,000, and eliminated if your MAGI exceeds $188,000.
Roth IRA contribution limits for 2013
The income limits for determining how much you can contribute to a Roth IRA have also increased. If your filing status is single/head of household, you can contribute the full $5,500 to a Roth IRA in 2013 if your MAGI is $112,000 or less (up from $110,000 in 2012). And if you’re married and filing a joint return, you can make a full contribution if your MAGI is $178,000 or less (up from $173,000 in 2012). (Again, contributions can’t exceed 100% of your earned income.)
| If your 2013 federal income tax filing status is: | Your Roth IRA contribution is reduced if your MAGI is: | You cannot contribute to a Roth IRA if your MAGI is: |
| Single or head of household | More than $112,000 but less than $127,000 | $127,000 or more |
| Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) | More than $178,000 but less than $188,000 (combined) | $188,000 or more (combined) |
| Married filing separately | More than $0 but less than $10,000 | $10,000 or more |
Employer retirement plans
The maximum amount you can contribute (your “elective deferrals”) to a 401(k) plan has increased for 2013. The limit (which also applies to 403(b), 457(b), and SAR-SEP plans, as well as the Federal Thrift Plan) is $17,500 in 2013 (up from $17,000 in 2012). If you’re age 50 or older, you can also make catch-up contributions of up to $5,500 to these plans in 2013 (unchanged from 2012). (Special catch-up limits apply to certain participants in 403(b) and 457(b) plans.)
If you participate in more than one retirement plan, your total elective deferrals can’t exceed the annual limit ($17,500 in 2013 plus any applicable catch-up contribution). Deferrals to 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, SIMPLE plans, and SAR-SEPs are included in this limit, but deferrals to Section 457(b) plans are not. For example, if you participate in both a 403(b) plan and a 457(b) plan, you can defer the full dollar limit to each plan–a total of $35,000 in 2013 (plus any catch-up contributions).
The amount you can contribute to a SIMPLE IRA or SIMPLE 401(k) plan has increased to $12,000 for 2013, up from $11,500 in 2012. The catch-up limit for those age 50 or older remains unchanged at $2,500.
| Plan Type | Annual Dollar Limit | Catch-Up Limit |
| 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b),SAR-SEP, Federal Thrift Plan | $17,500 | $5,500 |
| SIMPLE plans | $12,000 | $2,500 |
Note: Contributions can’t exceed 100% of your income.
The maximum amount that can be allocated to your account in a defined contribution plan (for example, a 401(k) plan or profit-sharing plan) in 2013 is $51,000 (up from $50,000 in 2012), plus age-50 catch-up contributions. (This includes both your contributions and your employer’s contributions. Special rules apply if your employer sponsors more than one retirement plan.)
Finally, the maximum amount of compensation that can be taken into account in determining benefits for most plans has increased to $255,000, up from $250,000 in 2012; and the dollar threshold for determining highly compensated employees remains unchanged at $115,000.
By: Enterprise Expert Elaine Shanley & Preferred Provider Neil Young of Young & Co.
About Young & Company: Young & Company is a financial advisory and corporate benefits firm that puts relationships not simply first, but at the center of a carefully designed matrix of service, opportunity, connection and expertise that we call Wisdom at Work.