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.

Securities and investment advisory services offered through ING Financial Partners, Inc., member FINRA, SIPC.

Federal and state insurance and securities rules and regulations prohibit registered representative(s) and/or investment adviser representative(s) from soliciting, offering and selling any insurance or securities products or providing investment advice until they are properly registered and licensed in each state jurisdiction.

Retirement Income Advisers, Inc. is not a subsidiary of ING Financial Partners, Inc.

Due to various state regulations and registration requirements concerning the dissemination of information regarding investment products and services, we are currently required to limit access of the following pages to individuals residing in states where we are currently registered. A Broker/Dealer, Registered Investment Adviser, Registered Representative or Investment Adviser Representative may only transact business in a particular state after licensure or satisfying qualifications requirements of that state, or only if they are excluded or exempted from the state's Broker/Dealer, Registered Investment Adviser, or Registered Representative or Investment Adviser Representative requirements, as the case may be; and follow-up, individualized responses to consumers in a particular state by Broker/Dealer, Registered Investment Adviser, Registered Representative or Investment Adviser Representative that involve either the effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, as the case may be, shall not be made without first complying with the state's Broker/Dealer, Registered Investment Adviser, Registered Representative or Investment Adviser Representative requirements, or pursuant to an applicable state exemption or exclusion.

The information on this website is intended for use only by residents of the states listed below. Securities related services may not be provided to individuals residing in any state not listed. We are licensed to sell Insurance Products in the following states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington.We are registered to sell Securities in the following states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington and California.