How Much Money Can I Put into My IRA or Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan?

All types of IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government. The limits are generally adjusted periodically to compensate for inflation and the increase in the cost of living.

IRAs

For the 2012 tax year, you can contribute up to $5,000 to all IRAs combined, the limit will be adjusted for inflation annually. For instance, if you have a traditional IRA as well as a Roth IRA, you can only contribute a total of the annual limit in one year, not the annual limit to each.

If you are age 50 or older, you can also make an annual $1,000 “catch-up” contribution.

Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans

Employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, have a 2012 contribution limit of $17,000; individuals aged 50 and older can contribute an extra $5,500 as a catch-up contribution.

If you are currently contributing to an IRA or an employer-sponsored retirement plan, it may be wise to check the contribution limit each year in order to put aside as much as possible.

Distributions from traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans are taxed as ordinary income and may be subject to an additional 10% federal income tax penalty if taken prior to reaching age 59½. If you participate in both a traditional IRA and an employer-sponsored plan, your IRA contributions may or may not be tax deductible, depending on your adjusted gross income.

The information in this article is not intended to be tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2012 Emerald Connect, Inc.

Beth L. Blecker and Matthew A. Blecker are Registered Representatives of and offer securities products & services through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC, a registered broker-dealer. In this regard, this communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in the states of Alabama (AL), Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Connecticut (CT), Georgia (GA), Florida (FL), Massachusetts (MA), Maryland (MD), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Ohio (OH), Pennsylvania (PA), South Carolina (SC) and Virginia (VA). No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside the specific states referenced.

IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: A broker-dealer, investment adviser, BD agent, or IA rep may only transact business in a state if first registered, or is excluded or exempt from state broker-dealer, investment adviser, BD agent or IA rep registration requirements, as appropriate. Follow-up, individualized responses to persons in a state by such a firm or individual that involve either effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, will not be made without first complying with appropriate registration requirement, or an applicable exemption or exclusion. For information concerning the licensing status or disciplinary history of broker-dealer, investment adviser, BD agent, or IA rep, a consumer should contact his or her state securities law administrator. Securities offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.

Beth Blecker and Matthew Blecker are separately registered as investment advisor representatives under Affiliated Advisors, Inc., a registered investment advisor, not affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, offering advisory services in the state of New York. As such, these services are strictly intended for individuals residing in New York. Additional investment advisory services offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. Eastern Planning Inc. is not affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates or registered as a broker dealer or investment advisor.

PLEASE NOTE: The information being provided is strictly as a courtesy. When you link to any of the web sites provided here, you are leaving this web site. We make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided at these web sites. Nor is the company liable for any direct or indirect technical or system issues or any consequences arising out of your access to or your use of third-party technologies, web sites, information and programs made available through this web site. When you access one of these web sites, you are leaving our web site and assume total responsibility and risk for your use of the web sites you are linking to.