Notable IRS adjustments for 2022

Every year the IRS makes a number of notable adjustments to items like the standard deduction, income tax brackets, and retirement plan contribution amounts. It is important to know how these changes will impact you and if you need to make any alterations to your savings amounts or tax mitigation strategies.

Here are some important adjustments taking effect in 2022:

• The Standard Deduction was increased to $25,900 for married couples who file jointly. Single filers and those who are married but file separately will have their standard deduction increased by $400 to $12,950. Head of households will also get a $600 increase in their standard deduction to $19,400.
• The tax rates remained the same, but the income brackets were increased slightly.

• Likewise, the capital gains rates remained the same, but the income bracket that determines the rate one pays increased.

• The maximum contribution amounts into employer provided retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan were adjusted upward. The employee contribution limit increased to $20,500, but the catch-up contribution for employees age 50 and older remains at $6,500. Total defined contribution limits for employee and employer contributions were increased to $61,000. The IRS compensation limit, for which employer contributions can be based, was increased to $305,000.
• For SIMPLE retirement accounts the contribution limit was increased to $14,000, and the catch-up contribution remained the same at $3,000.
• The maximum SEP IRA contribution was increased to $61,000 with maximum countable compensation increased to $305,000.
• The annual contribution limit for an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), for both pretax or Roth or a combination, remains at $6,000 for 2022. The catch-up contribution limit remains at $1,000. The deduction for taxpayers making contributions to a traditional IRA is phased out for singles and heads of household who are covered by a workplace retirement plan and have modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGI) [JK1] between $68,000 and $78,000. For married couples filing jointly, in which the spouse who makes the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the income phase-out range is $109,000 to $129,000 for 2022. For an IRA contributor not covered by a workplace retirement plan and who is married to someone who is covered, the deduction is phased out if the couple’s income is between $204,000 and $214,000 in 2022.
• The Roth IRA modified adjusted gross income phase-out range increased to $204,000 to $214,000 for married couples filing jointly. For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is $129,000 to $144,000. If your income exceeds these amounts, you can open a non-deductible IRA and convert it to a Roth IRA (the current tax bill being debated in Congress may eliminate the ability to utilize a backdoor IRA, but as of writing this article, nothing has been passed).
• The income limit for the saver’s credit is $68,000 for married couples filing jointly; $51,000 for heads of household; and $34,000 for singles and married filing separately.
• The Social Security taxable wage base was increased to $147,000 from $142,800.

As you plan for tax year 2022, we encourage you to speak with your CPA. Beyond typical tax planning, they may offer additional strategies to minimize your tax impact throughout the year.

Jeff Witz, CFP® welcomes readers’ questions.He can be reached at 800-883-8555 or at witz@mediqus.com.

Effective June 21, 2005, newly issued Internal Revenue Service regulations require that certain types of written advice include a disclaimer. To the extent the preceding message contains written advice relating to a Federal tax issue, the written advice is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the recipient or any other taxpayer, for the purposes of avoiding Federal tax penalties, and was not written to support the promotion or marketing of the transaction or matters discussed herein.

The information contained in this report is for informational purposes only. Any calculations have been made using techniques we consider reliable but are not guaranteed. Please contact your tax advisor to review this information and to consult with them regarding any questions you may have with respect to this communication.

MEDIQUS Asset Advisors, Inc. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.