It's not too late for low- and moderate-income workers to earn a special tax credit this year as they save for retirement.
The saver's credit helps offset part of the first $2,000 workers voluntarily contribute to IRAs and to 401(k)s and other defined contribution plans at their workplace.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, eligible workers still have time to make qualifying retirement contributions and get the saver's credit on their 2013 tax return. Workers have until April 15, 2014, to set up a new IRA or add money to an existing one for 2013.
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That said, elective contributions must be made by the end of the year to a 401(k) or other defined contribution plan and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan. Employees who aren't able to set aside money for this year may want to schedule their 2014 contributions soon so their employer can begin withholding them in January, the IRS said.
So who can qualify to receive the saver's credit? Married couples filing jointly with incomes up to $59,000 in 2013 and $60,000 in 2014; heads of household with incomes up to $44,250 in 2013 or $45,000 in 2014; and married individuals filing separately and singles with incomes up to $29,500 in 2013 or $30,000 in 2014.
The actual credit amount a person receives is based on his or her filing status, adjusted gross income, tax liability and the amount contributed to qualifying retirement programs.
In tax year 2011, saver's credits totaling just over $1.1 billion were claimed on nearly 6.4 million individual income tax returns. Saver's credits claimed on these returns averaged $215 for joint filers, $166 for heads of household and $128 for single filers.
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