Can IRAs Reduce Your Taxable Income?

Yes, you can lower your taxable income and your tax bill by opening and contributing to an individual retirement account (IRA). But it depends, first and foremost, on the type of IRA you have.

Let’s look at those and some other ways to reduce your gross income, freeing up funds to contribute to an IRA for the maximum advantage.

The Two Types of IRAs

If you contribute to a traditional IRA, it can definitely reduce your taxable income; however, some individuals may be ineligible to deduct these contributions based on their income level.

The money deposited into a traditional IRA reduces your adjusted gross income (AGI) for that tax year on a dollar-for-dollar basis, assuming it is within the annual contribution limits (see below). So a qualifying contribution of, say, $2,000 could reduce your AGI by $2,000, giving you a tax break for that year. This move is what is known as contributing with pretax dollars.

A contribution to a Roth IRA does not reduce your AGI in the tax year you make it. Roth contributions are funded with after-tax dollars, meaning there’s no deduction at the time of your deposit; however, when the money is withdrawn from the account (presumably after you retire), no income tax is due on it.

But you do pay taxes on distributions—the sums you withdraw—from your traditional IRA in the year you take them. They count as taxable income. As a result, they may significantly boost the amount of tax you owe.

Of course, your funds grow tax-free while in the account with both types of IRAs.

IRA Contribution Limits

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) places limits on the amount you can invest annually in an IRA, whether you choose to go down the Roth or traditional IRA path. For 2022, the IRA limit for contributors is $6,000 plus a $1,000 catch-up contribution for taxpayers who are 50 and over. For 2023, the limit is $6,500 plus a $1,000 catch-up contribution for taxpayers who are 50 and over. The contribution maximums apply collectively to all your IRAs, which means they are not per account.

Traditional IRA Limits

The IRS allows deductions on contributions to a traditional IRA, but the deduction may be reduced or phased out if you (or your spouse, if you file jointly) are covered by a retirement plan at work.

For the 2022 tax year, a single filer covered by a workplace plan can take a full deduction if their AGI is under $68,000 ($73,000 for 2023) or a partial one if they make between $68,000 and $78,000 ($73,000 and $83,000 for 2023). The deduction is eliminated above that amount.

A married couple in which the IRA-contributing spouse is covered by a workplace retirement plan can take a full deduction if their AGI is below $109,000 annually ($116,000 for 2023), a partial one if it’s between $109,000 and $129,000 ($116,000 and $136,000 for 2023), and none if their AGI is above that amount. If the other spouse has the workplace plan, the phase-out applies to a joint income between $204,000 and $214,000 ($218,000 and $228,000 for 2023).

Roth IRA Limits

Your participation in a workplace plan doesn’t affect your Roth IRA contributions. Your income, on the other hand, does. Specifically, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) determines whether or not you can contribute to a Roth IRA and how much you can contribute.

Single taxpayers are good to go until their MAGI hits $129,000 ($138,000 for 2023). If it falls between $129,000 and $144,000 ($138,000 and $153,000 for 2023), they face a gradual reduction in the amount they can contribute. For joint filers, the phase-out applies to incomes between $204,000 to $214,000 ($218,000 to $228,000 for 2023). Exceed those outer limits and you can’t fund a Roth IRA at all.

How To Reduce Your MAGI

Here are some ways to reduce your income so you may contribute to a Roth IRA.

Contribute at Work

Pretax contributions you make to a workplace retirement plan such as a 401(k), 403(b), 457 retirement plan, or Thrift Savings Plan are deducted from your taxable income. The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 retirement plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is $20,500 for 2022 ($22,500 for 2023). The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in these plans is $6,500 for 2022 and $7,500 for 2023.

Contribute to an HSA

In 2022, if your health insurance policy has a deductible of at least $1,400 (single) or $2,800 (family), you may qualify to make pretax contributions to a health savings account (HSA). For 2023, these amounts are $1,500 and $3,000, respectively.

There are limits to how much you can contribute in one year. In 2022, the maximum for HSAs is $3,650 for individual coverage and $7,300 for family coverage. For 2023, the amounts are $3,850 and $7,750.

Contribute to an FSA

A variation on the HSA is called a flexible spending account (FSA), which some employers offer. The contribution limit for 2022 is $2,850 to a healthcare FSA or limited-purpose FSA ($3,050 for 2023).

Typically, there’s an open-enrollment period in the fall, during which you must sign up. Normally, you can’t contribute to both an FSA and HSA in the same year, though there are some exceptions.

Contribute to a Dependent Care FSA

If you pay for childcare or adult daycare, you can contribute up to $5,000 in pretax earnings to a dependent care flexible spending account.

Like a regular FSA, this one typically requires you to sign up during an open enrollment period, unless you have a qualifying event (such as the birth of a child).

Lower Your Schedule C Income

Self-employment income claimed on Schedule C is another area where you may be able to find deductions that lower your MAGI. In addition to normal business-related deductions, consider contributions to a simplified employee pension (SEP), solo 401(k), or some other tax-deductible retirement plan, if appropriate. While you’re at it, check for nonbusiness deductions, as well.

Claim Capital Losses

If you have capital losses that exceed capital gains, you can apply up to $3,000 against ordinary income. This strategy is often overlooked as a way to reduce MAGI. Claiming capital losses is complex, and the IRS has rules that you must follow. Consult your tax advisor to make sure you comply.

The Bottom Line

Individual retirement accounts are a great way to reduce your tax liability. But keep in mind, there are restrictions on which accounts you can own and how much you can contribute. You can also look at other options to reduce your taxable income, including HSAs and FSAs. When in doubt, always check with a financial professional in order to avoid making any mistakes.