ABLE Savings Account Update

John Darer • June 25, 2018

Disabled Can Now Put More Into Tax Favored ABLE Accounts and May Now Qualify for the Saver's Credit

ABLE accounts

People with disabilities can now put more money into their tax-favored Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts and may, for the first time, qualify for the Saver's Credit for low- and moderate-income workers, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enables eligible individuals with disabilities to put more money into their ABLE accounts, qualify for the Saver's Credit in many cases and roll money from their 529 plans  also known as qualified tuition programs  into their ABLE accounts.

ABLE accounts are a financial planning tool available to people who become disabled before age 26. ABLE accounts were established to enable people with disabilities and their families to save for and pay for disability-related expenses to ease up financial burdens faced by families raising children with disabilities . Though contributions are not deductible, distributions from ABLE accounts, including earnings, are tax-free to the designated beneficiary if used to pay qualified disability expenses . These expenses can include housing, education, transportation, health, prevention and wellness, employment training and support, assistive technology and personal support services and other disability-related expenses.

Normally, contributions totaling up to the annual gift tax exclusion amount, $15,000 for 2018, may be made to an ABLE account each year for an eligible person with a disability, known as a designated beneficiary. But, starting in 2018, if the beneficiary works, the beneficiary can also contribute part or all of what they make to their ABLE account.

This additional contribution is limited to the poverty line amount for a one-person household. For 2018, this amount is $12,140 in the continental U.S., $13,960 in Hawaii and $15,180 in Alaska. However, the designated beneficiary is not eligible to make this additional contribution if their employer contributes to a workplace retirement plan on their behalf.

In addition, starting in 2018, ABLE account beneficiaries can qualify for the Saver's Credit based on contributions they make to their ABLE accounts. Up to $2,000 of these contributions qualify for this special credit designed to help low- and moderate-income workers.

In addition, some funds now may be rolled into an ABLE account from the designated beneficiary's own 529 plan or from the 529 plan of certain family members.

Like other workers, ABLE account beneficiaries and other people with disabilities should make sure they are having the right amount of income tax withheld from their pay. Because of the far-reaching tax changes taking effect this year, the IRS urges all employees to perform a paycheck checkup now. Doing so now will help avoid an unexpected year-end tax bill and possibly a penalty. The easiest way to do that is to use the fully-accessible Withholding Calculator, available on IRS.gov.

See IR-2018-139 , June 15, 2018

Also What Are ABLE Accounts? ABLE Accounts and Personal Injury Settlement Planning

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