Saver's Credit Calculator 2026
Your 2026 Saver's Credit — the 50% / 20% / 10% rate at your AGI, eligible contributions up to $2,000 per person, the non-refundable limit, the combined benefit with the pre-tax deduction and the contribution that would lift you into a better tier.
| Credit rate at your AGI | — |
|---|---|
| Eligible contributions (max $2,000 per person) | — |
| Credit before the tax limit | — |
| Tax before credits | — |
| Credit you can actually use | — |
| Combined with the tax deduction (pre-tax contributions) | — |
| Effective match on your contribution | — |
| AGI thresholds for your status | — |
| Contribution to reach the next tier | — |
In short
The 2026 Saver's Credit is 50%, 20% or 10% of up to $2,000 of retirement contributions per person — a maximum of $1,000 ($2,000 joint) — for filers 18+ who are not students or dependants, with AGI up to $40,250 single, $60,375 head of household or $80,500 joint (the 50% tier ends at $24,250 / $36,375 / $48,500). It is non-refundable and stacks with the deduction for pre-tax contributions; from 2027 it becomes the refundable Saver's Match.
Who this is for: Lower- and moderate-income US workers and students starting to save for retirement.
Saver's Credit 2026 at a glance
| Credit rate | Single / separate AGI | Head of household AGI | Married jointly AGI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50% of contributions | up to $24,250 | up to $36,375 | up to $48,500 |
| 20% | $24,251 – $26,250 | $36,376 – $39,375 | $48,501 – $52,500 |
| 10% | $26,251 – $40,250 | $39,376 – $60,375 | $52,501 – $80,500 |
| 0% | over $40,250 | over $60,375 | over $80,500 |
- Maximum credit: $1,000 per person ($2,000 joint) — 50% of $2,000 of contributions.
- The AGI tiers are cliffs: at $24,300 a single filer gets 20%, at $24,200 50% — a $100 pre-tax contribution can triple the credit.
- Stacks with the tax deduction for pre-tax contributions and any employer match; a 401(k) contribution at the 50% tier can return 60–70% in year one.
- Distributions from retirement accounts in the two prior years, the current year and up to the filing deadline reduce eligible contributions.
See also: IRA Deduction Calculator 2026, EITC Calculator 2026.
Assumptions
- Rate 50% / 20% / 10% by AGI ceiling; eligible = min($2,000, contributions − recent distributions) per person.
- Usable credit = min(credit, tax before credits); tax estimated from the standard deduction if not entered.
- Combined benefit adds the deduction value of pre-tax contributions at the marginal rate.
Worked example
$38,000 falls in the 20% tier ($36,376–$39,375). Eligible contributions are capped at $2,000, so the credit is $400. Estimated tax before credits is about $1,385, so the full $400 is usable; the pre-tax contribution also saves about $200 at 10%, a total benefit of about $600 (30% of the $2,000). Contributing $1,625 more pre-tax would drop AGI to $36,375 and lift the credit to $1,000 — the extra $600 of credit costs $1,625 of (saved, not spent) money.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for the Saver's Credit in 2026?
Anyone 18 or over who is not a full-time student or dependant, with AGI up to $40,250 (single), $60,375 (head of household) or $80,500 (joint), who contributed to a retirement plan or IRA.
How much is the Saver's Credit?
10%, 20% or 50% of up to $2,000 of contributions per person — a maximum of $1,000 ($2,000 on a joint return).
Is the Saver's Credit refundable?
No — it only offsets tax you owe. From 2027 it becomes the Saver's Match, a refundable 50% deposit of up to $1,000 into your retirement account.
Do Roth contributions count?
Yes — Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) contributions qualify, though they do not also give a deduction.
Can I get the credit for an employer match?
No — only your own contributions count, but the match still grows your account.
How do I claim it?
File Form 8880 with Form 1040; many tax programmes miss it unless you enter your contributions.
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