2024 Saver's Credit Income Limit
For 2024, the Saver's Credit Income Limit figures are $46,000 (Maximum AGI for the 50% credit rate, married taxpayers filing a joint return), $50,000 (Maximum AGI for the 20% credit rate, married taxpayers filing a joint return), $76,500 (Maximum AGI for the 10% credit rate, married taxpayers filing a joint return) and 10 more figures below.
| Item | Married taxpayers filing a joint return | Taxpayers filing as head of household | All other taxpayers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum AGI for the 50% credit rate | $46,000 | $34,500 | $23,000 |
| Maximum AGI for the 20% credit rate | $50,000 | $37,500 | $25,000 |
| Maximum AGI for the 10% credit rate | $76,500 | $57,375 | $38,250 |
Effective 2024-01-01Source: Notice 2023-75 (IRS)Verified 2026-09-03
Highest-tier applicable percentage, Middle-tier applicable percentage, Lowest non-zero-tier applicable percentageSource: United States Code (2024 edition), Title 26 Section 25B (Office of the Law Revision Counsel)Verified 2026-09-03
Maximum eligible contribution per personSource: Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)Verified 2026-09-03
Compared with 2023
| Item | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum AGI for the 50% credit rate, married taxpayers filing a joint return | $43,500 | $46,000 | +$2,500 (+5.7%) |
| Maximum AGI for the 20% credit rate, married taxpayers filing a joint return | $47,500 | $50,000 | +$2,500 (+5.3%) |
| Maximum AGI for the 10% credit rate, married taxpayers filing a joint return | $73,000 | $76,500 | +$3,500 (+4.8%) |
| Maximum AGI for the 50% credit rate, taxpayers filing as head of household | $32,625 | $34,500 | +$1,875 (+5.7%) |
| Maximum AGI for the 20% credit rate, taxpayers filing as head of household | $35,625 | $37,500 | +$1,875 (+5.3%) |
| Maximum AGI for the 10% credit rate, taxpayers filing as head of household | $54,750 | $57,375 | +$2,625 (+4.8%) |
| Maximum AGI for the 50% credit rate, all other taxpayers | $21,750 | $23,000 | +$1,250 (+5.7%) |
| Maximum AGI for the 20% credit rate, all other taxpayers | $23,750 | $25,000 | +$1,250 (+5.3%) |
| Maximum AGI for the 10% credit rate, all other taxpayers | $36,500 | $38,250 | +$1,750 (+4.8%) |
| Highest-tier applicable percentage | 50% | 50% | +0% (+0.0%) |
| Middle-tier applicable percentage | 20% | 20% | +0% (+0.0%) |
| Lowest non-zero-tier applicable percentage | 10% | 10% | +0% (+0.0%) |
| Maximum eligible contribution per person | $2,000 | $2,000 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Maximum AGI for the 50% credit rate
Maximum AGI for the 20% credit rate
Maximum AGI for the 10% credit rate
$23,000$76,500
One dot per column of the table, on a scale running from the smallest of these amounts to the largest. The scale is logarithmic, so that the amounts crowded at the low end stay far enough apart to read. The table states which dot is which.
Who it applies to
Taxpayers claiming the retirement savings contributions credit under Internal Revenue Code section 25B
What changed this year, and why
For 2024, the adjusted gross income limits for the retirement savings contributions credit (Saver's Credit) are $76,500 for married taxpayers filing a joint return, $57,375 for taxpayers filing as head of household, and $38,250 for all other taxpayers.
Common questions
- Are these the Saver's Credit (retirement savings contributions credit) income limits?
- Yes. These limits apply to the retirement savings contributions credit (also called the Saver's Credit) under Internal Revenue Code section 25B.
Every amount on this page is a published figure rather than yours. The Saver's Credit income headroom takes the number you enter and works it out against them, showing which published figure it used.
Three things that disqualify you even under the income limit
Even if your income is below the IRS limit, you cannot claim the Saver's Credit if any of three conditions apply to the person who made the retirement contribution. First, that person was born after January 1, 2007, meaning they were under age 18 during the tax year. Second, the person is claimed as a dependent on someone else's 2024 tax return. Third, the person was a student, as defined in the form's instructions. If any one of these three circumstances is true, you are ineligible for the credit regardless of how much you contributed to a qualifying retirement account. Both spouses on a joint return must satisfy all three tests; if either spouse fails any one, neither spouse can claim the credit for that spouse's contributions.
The person(s) who made the qualified contribution or elective deferral (a) was born after January 1, 2007; (b) is claimed as a dependent on someone else’s 2024 tax return; or (c) was a student (see instructions).
Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)
The credit rate falls in steps as income rises
The saver's credit rate is not fixed; it drops in steps as your adjusted gross income rises. For 2024, the applicable decimal amount (your credit rate) is determined by comparing your income to thresholds that vary by filing status. For married filing jointly, the rate is 0.5 if income is $23,000 or less, 0.2 if over $23,000 but not over $25,000, 0.1 if over $25,000 but not over $34,500, and 0.0 if over $34,500. For head of household, the rate is 0.5 up to $34,500, 0.2 from $34,500 to $37,500, 0.1 from $37,500 to $57,375, and 0.0 above $57,375. For single filers, married filing separately, and qualifying surviving spouses, the rate is 0.5 up to $23,000, 0.2 from $23,000 to $25,000, 0.1 from $25,000 to $38,250, and 0.0 above $38,250. Once your income exceeds the maximum for your filing status ($76,500 married filing jointly, $57,375 head of household, or $38,250 all others), the rate drops to 0.0 and you cannot claim the credit.
9 Enter the applicable decimal amount from the table below. If line 8 is— Over— But not over— And your filing status is— Married filing jointly Head of household Enter on line 9— Single, Married filing separately, or Qualifying surviving spouse --- $23,000 0.5 0.5 0.5 $23,000 $25,000 0.5 0.5 0.2 $25,000 $34,500 0.5 0.5 0.1 $34,500 $37,500 0.5 0.2 0.1 $37,500 $38,250 0.5 0.1 0.1 $38,250 $46,000 0.5 0.1 0.0 $46,000 $50,000 0.2 0.1 0.0 $50,000 $57,375 0.1 0.1 0.0 $57,375 $76,500 0.1 0.0 0.0 $76,500 --- 0.0 0.0 0.0 Note: If line 9 is zero, stop; you can’t take this credit.
Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)
Only the first $2,000 of contributions counts
Line 6 of Form 8880 instructs you to enter the smaller of line 5 or $2,000 in each column (one for you, one for your spouse). This means the maximum contribution amount that counts toward the saver's credit is $2,000 per person. Line 5 is your total contributions after subtracting any recent distributions. If your net contributions are less than $2,000, you use that smaller amount. If your net contributions are $2,000 or more, you enter exactly $2,000. This cap applies per person, so on a joint return both spouses can each have up to $2,000 counted. The credit rate from line 9 is then multiplied by the combined total from both columns to determine your final credit amount.
In each column, enter the smaller of line 5 or $2,000
Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)
Recent withdrawals cut the contributions you can count
If you received distributions from retirement accounts after 2021 and before the due date of your 2024 tax return (including extensions), those distributions reduce the contributions you can count toward the saver's credit. Line 4 of Form 8880 requires you to subtract these recent distributions from your total contributions. If you are married filing jointly, you must include distributions received by both spouses in both columns. This rule prevents taxpayers from making contributions solely to claim the credit while simultaneously taking withdrawals from retirement accounts. The result after subtraction cannot be less than zero. If your distributions equal or exceed your contributions, the result is zero and you cannot claim the credit.
Certain distributions received after 2021 and before the due date (including extensions) of your 2024 tax return (see instructions). If married filing jointly, include both spouses’ amounts in both columns.
Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)
The credit cannot exceed the tax you owe
The saver's credit is limited to your tax liability. Line 11 of Form 8880 requires you to enter the amount from the Credit Limit Worksheet in the instructions, which calculates how much tax you owe. Line 12 then instructs you to enter the smaller of line 10 (your preliminary credit amount) or line 11 (your tax limitation). This means the credit is nonrefundable: it can reduce your tax to zero but cannot by itself generate a refund. If your calculated credit exceeds your tax liability, the excess is lost and cannot be carried forward to future tax years. The credit is reported on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 4.
Credit for qualified retirement savings contributions. Enter the smaller of line 10 or line 11 here and on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 4
Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)
Being a student for even part of five months can disqualify you
Under the 2024 Saver's Credit (Form 8880), you are disqualified from claiming the retirement savings contributions credit if you were a student during any part of 5 calendar months of the tax year. Specifically, you are considered a student if during that time you were enrolled as a full-time student at a school, or took a full-time, on-farm training course given by a school or a state, county, or local government agency. A school includes technical, trade, and mechanical schools, but does not include on-the-job training courses, correspondence schools, or schools offering courses only through the Internet. This rule applies to any person who made the qualified contribution or elective deferral. So even a single day of full-time enrollment within any five calendar months can eliminate eligibility for the credit entirely for that year.
You were a student if during any part of 5 calendar months of 2024 you: • Were enrolled as a full-time student at a school; or • Took a full-time, on-farm training course given by a school or a state, county, or local government agency.
Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)
The form used, and where the credit lands on your return
You claim the federal Saver’s Credit by completing Form 8880 and attaching it to your Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR. The form walks you through your retirement contributions, any recent distributions that must be subtracted, and the credit rate that applies based on your adjusted gross income and filing status. Once the credit amount is figured on Form 8880, it flows to Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 4, where it is combined with your other nonrefundable credits before being applied against your tax liability on the main return. In other words, the credit is taken on the same schedule used for other general nonrefundable credits, not on the schedule where above-the-line deductions appear. The credit reduces the tax you owe dollar for dollar, up to the amount of your tax liability, and it is available alongside any IRA deduction you may claim.
12 Credit for qualified retirement savings contributions. Enter the smaller of line 10 or line 11 here and on Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)
This credit stacks on top of the separate IRA deduction
The federal Saver’s Credit is designed to work alongside, not replace, the ordinary IRA deduction. If you contribute to a traditional IRA and qualify for an above-the-line deduction for that contribution, you can still claim the Saver’s Credit on the same dollars, provided you meet the credit’s income and eligibility tests. The IRS describes this explicitly: the credit is available in addition to any IRA deduction you claim on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 20. In practical terms, a taxpayer who is eligible for both benefits receives the deduction, which lowers adjusted gross income, and then figures the Saver’s Credit on Form 8880 using the already-reduced adjusted gross income. The two provisions are independent, so taking one does not reduce or disqualify the other, and both can lower your tax bill for the same tax year.
TIP This credit can be claimed in addition to any IRA deduction claimed on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 20.
Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
Notice 2023-75 (IRS)
- Maximum AGI for the 50% credit rate, married taxpayers filing a joint return
The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for married taxpayers filing a joint return is increased from $43,500 to $46,000; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $47,500 to $50,000; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $73,000 to $76,500.
- Maximum AGI for the 20% credit rate, married taxpayers filing a joint return
The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for married taxpayers filing a joint return is increased from $43,500 to $46,000; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $47,500 to $50,000; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $73,000 to $76,500.
- Maximum AGI for the 10% credit rate, married taxpayers filing a joint return
The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for married taxpayers filing a joint return is increased from $43,500 to $46,000; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $47,500 to $50,000; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $73,000 to $76,500.
- Maximum AGI for the 50% credit rate, taxpayers filing as head of household
The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for taxpayers filing as head of household is increased from $32,625 to $34,500; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $35,625 to $37,500; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $54,750 to $57,375.
- Maximum AGI for the 20% credit rate, taxpayers filing as head of household
The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for taxpayers filing as head of household is increased from $32,625 to $34,500; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $35,625 to $37,500; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $54,750 to $57,375.
- Maximum AGI for the 10% credit rate, taxpayers filing as head of household
The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for taxpayers filing as head of household is increased from $32,625 to $34,500; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $35,625 to $37,500; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $54,750 to $57,375.
- Maximum AGI for the 50% credit rate, all other taxpayers
The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for all other taxpayers is increased from $21,750 to $23,000; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $23,750 to $25,000; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $36,500 to $38,250.
- Maximum AGI for the 20% credit rate, all other taxpayers
The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for all other taxpayers is increased from $21,750 to $23,000; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $23,750 to $25,000; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $36,500 to $38,250.
- Maximum AGI for the 10% credit rate, all other taxpayers
The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for all other taxpayers is increased from $21,750 to $23,000; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $23,750 to $25,000; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $36,500 to $38,250.
United States Code (2024 edition), Title 26 Section 25B (Office of the Law Revision Counsel)
- Highest-tier applicable percentage
if the adjusted gross income of the tax- payer is not over $30,000, 50 percent,
- Middle-tier applicable percentage
if the adjusted gross income of the tax- payer is over $30,000 but not over $32,500, 20 percent,
- Lowest non-zero-tier applicable percentage
if the adjusted gross income of the tax- payer is over $32,500 but not over $50,000, 10 percent,
Form 8880 (2024), Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions (IRS)
- Maximum eligible contribution per person
In each column, enter the smaller of line 5 or $2,000