Planning for retirement requires us to consider not only how to build wealth but how to protect it. Employers offer 401(k)s to address the first need, but careful planning can help us ensure our money stays with us. While you can’t get a 401(k) tax deduction, 401(k) plans make it possible to lower your taxable income. A financial advisor could help you put a tax strategy together for your investments and retirement savings.
How 401(K) Contributions Can Reduce Your Tax Liability
When you make contributions to your 401(k), you do it on a pretax basis. Essentially, some of the money earned through your work goes directly into the account before taxes can take a bite out of it. That reduction from your take-home pay shrinks your taxable income. As a result, you pay less income tax.
For example, let’s say you file single, earn a salary of $40,000 and decide to take advantage of your employer’s 401(k) matching program. They offer a dollar-for-dollar match up to 3% of your annual salary, so you decide to contribute 5% of your own earnings, plus the 3% your employer offers. Together, you contribute a total of 8% of your annual salary, which is $3,200.
Remember, only the portion of your total contribution that you personally made reduces your taxable income. As a result, a 401(k) contribution of 5% of your salary lowers your taxable income by $2,000 to $38,000.
In turn, you’ll owe only $4,340 in federal income tax compared to the $4,580 you’d owe if you didn’t contribute anything to your 401(k) and paid taxes on your full salary. That equates to a tax savings of $240. In addition, any interest earned on those contributions also grows tax-deferred, allowing you to maximize returns and pushback income taxes on your withdrawals to retirement.
401(k) Distributions Timing to Cut Taxes
While 401(k)s help reduce your tax liability today, you will eventually have to pay taxes on the money. This is because owners of 401(k)s get hit with income taxes when they make a withdrawal from the account.
The good news is that you’ll likely face lower taxes at that time than you would today. Most retirees drop into a lower tax bracket since their income decreases. So, any distributions you take from your account get taxed at a much lower rate.
Waiting until after you’re 59.5 years old will also reduce costs. Withdrawing before that age normally results in taxes and a penalty of 10%. On the other hand, you must start making withdrawals, called required minimum distributions (RMDs).
How Roth 401(k)s Cut Your Tax Liability in Retirement
Roth 401(k)s come with many of the perks traditional 401(k)s provide. Like the latter, employers sponsor these retirement plans. However, you use after-tax money to contribute to them instead of pretax money. As a result, they have no impact on your current taxable income. So, you continue to pay taxes on your full paycheck as you contribute. However, you won’t face any income taxes when you withdraw in the future, meaning your investment earnings grow tax-free.
Because of this, the tax savings you realize with a Roth 401(k) depend on your current and future tax rates. It’s possible to earn more in your retirement, putting you in a higher tax bracket. If so, a Roth 401(k) would benefit you since you avoid paying higher income taxes on your withdrawals. In contrast, if you believe your income tax will drop in retirement, you’re likely better off with a traditional 401(k).
You also have the option to use both. Taxpayers can fund a traditional, tax-deferred 401(k) as well as a Roth version. However, keep in mind that both normally require you to be at least 59.5 to withdraw without penalty and require minimum distributions.
Other Tax Benefits for Saving
If you’re focused on lowering your tax bill, there is another way. The Saver’s Credit, originally called the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, gives eligible taxpayers a break. Specifically, it’s designed for those who earn a low to moderate income. Essentially, the Saver’s Credit lowers your taxable income by a percentage of your 401(k) contribution. This tax break is in addition to the tax savings your contribution already provides.
Depending on your filing status and adjusted gross income, you can claim it for 10%, 20% or 50% of the first $2,000 you put into your retirement account annually. So, the maximum amount you can claim through the credit is $200, $400 and $1,000, respectively. However, for married couples filing jointly the maximum they can claim is $2,000.
Full-time students and dependents are not eligible for this credit, and you must meet the income requirements. For 2024, the maximum adjusted gross income limits for the Saver’s Credit are $76,500 (up from $73,000 in 2023) for couples filing jointly, $57,375 (up from $54,750 in 2023) for a head of household and $38,250 (up from $36,500 in 2023) for all other taxpayers.
In addition to a 401(k), you can claim the Saver’s Credit on other accounts, such as a 403(b), 457 plan, simple IRA or SEP IRA.
Bottom Line
While 401(k) contributions are not technically tax deductible, these retirement accounts offer significant tax benefits. Contributing pretax into a traditional 401(k) lets you lower your taxable income and defer taxes on your retirement savings until you withdraw it. At that time, you’ll pay income taxes on the money. If you believe you’ll earn more in your later years and be in a higher tax bracket, a Roth 401(k)s may be a good option, since it allows your money to grow tax-free. There are also other ways to reduce your taxable income, such as making charitable donations to nonprofits.
Tips for Retirement
- What do your plans look like for retirement? Will your 401(k) be enough to support you when you stop working? These are tough questions, but a financial advisor can guide you through them. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- A 401(k) is a great way to build funds to support you through your retirement. But retirees are often caught off guard by unexpected costs like emergencies and medical bills. These can drain your reserve of funds. So, every working adult should consider planning for these potential healthcare expenses. A health savings account (HSA) is one way to do that. They’re tax-deferred like 401(k)s but lack taxes on qualified withdrawals. You can check out our guide on HSAs to see if they’re right for you.
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