Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2020.
Employer retirement plans
Employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans can defer up to $19,500 in compensation in 2020 (up from $19,000 in 2019); employees age 50 and older can defer up to an additional $6,500 in 2020 (up from $6,000 in 2019).
Employees participating in a SIMPLE retirement plan can defer up to $13,500 in 2020 (up from $13,000 in 2019), and employees age 50 and older can defer up to an additional $3,000 in 2020 (the same as in 2019).
IRAs
The combined annual limit on contributions to traditional and Roth IRAs is $6,000 in 2020 (the same as in 2019), with individuals age 50 and older able to contribute an additional $1,000. For individuals who are covered by a workplace retirement plan, the deduction for contributions to a traditional IRA phases out for the following modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) ranges:
| 2019 | 2020 | |
| Single/Head of Household (HOH) | $64,000 – $74,000 | $65,000 – $75,000 |
| Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) | $103,000 – $123,000 | $104,000 – $124,000 |
| Married Filing Separately (MFS) | $0 – $10,000 | $0 – $10,000 |
Note: The 2020 phaseout range is $196,000 – $206,000 (up from $193,000 – $203,000 in 2019) when the individual making the IRA contribution is not covered by a workplace retirement plan, but is filing jointly with a spouse who is not covered.
The modified adjusted gross income phaseout ranges for individuals to make contributions to a Roth IRA are:
| 2019 | 2020 | |
| Single/HOH | $122,000 – $137,000 | $124,000 – $139,000 |
| MFJ | $193,000 – $203,000 | $196,000 – $206,000 |
| MFS | $0 – $10,000 | $0 – $10,000 |
Estate and gift tax
- The annual gift tax exclusion for 2020 is $15,000, the same as in 2019
- The gift and estate tax basic exclusion amount for 2020 is $11,580,000, up from $11,4000,000 in 2019.
Standard deduction
| 2019 | 2020 | |
| Single | $12,200 | $12,400 |
| HOH | $18,350 | $18,650 |
| MFJ | $24,400 | $24,800 |
| MFS | $12,200 | $12,400 |
Note: The additional standard deduction amount for the blind or aged (age 65 or older) in 2020 is $1,650 (the same as in 2019) for single/HOH or $1,300 (the same as in 2019) for all other filing statuses. Special rules apply if you can be claimed as a dependent by another tax payer.
Alternative minimum tax (AMT)
| Maximum AMT exemption amount | ||
| 2019 | 2020 | |
| Single/HOH | $71,700 | $72,900 |
| MFJ | $111,700 | $113,400 |
| MFS | $55,850 | $56,700 |
| Exemption phaseout threshold | ||
| 2019 | 2020 | |
| Single/HOH | $510,300 | $518,400 |
| MFJ | $1,020,600 | $1,036,800 |
| MFS | $510,300 | $518,400 |
| 26% rate on AMTI* up to this amount, 28% rate on AMTI above this amount | ||
| 2019 | 2020 | |
| MFS | $97,400 | $98,950 |
| All Others | $194,800 | $197,900 |
* Alternative minimum taxable income
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
Wellspring Financial Partners, LLC does not provide tax or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual’s personal circumstances.
To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.
These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable—we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.
