CBO's Online Guide to
Tax Incentives for Retirement Saving

  
 

Topical Outline

Welcome/Home Page

  1. Employment-Based Retirement Plans


    1. History of the Employment-Based Retirement System


    2. Qualified Plans


      1. Criteria for Receiving Favored Tax Treatment


        1. Nondiscrimination Rules
        2. Vesting Requirements
        3. Limits on Contributions or Benefits
        4. Minimum Funding Standards
        5. Distribution Requirements
        6. Special Rules for Top-Heavy Plans


      2. Special Types


        1. Keogh Plans
        2. Multiemployer Plans
        3. 401(k) Plans


      3. Cases Receiving Nonstandard Tax Treatment


        1. Penalty Tax on Early Distributions and Withdrawals
        2. "Saver's Credit" for Low-Income Contributors


    3. Other Tax-Favored Retirement Plans


      1. Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs)
      2. Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLEs)
      3. 403(b) Plans
      4. 457 Plans
      5. The Federal Thrift Savings Plan


    4. Defined-Benefit Plans

      1. Types of Benefit Formulas


        1. Length-of-Service Formula
        2. Earnings-and-Length-of-Service Formula
        3. Percentage-of-Contribution Formula
        4. Cash Balance Plans


      2. Specific Benefit Formula Parameters


        1. Integration with Social Security
        2. Normal Retirement Age and Minimum-Service Requirement
        3. Postretirement Adjustments for Inflation


      3. Other Design Features That Can Be Customized


        1. Sources of Contributions
        2. Investment Control
        3. Options for Distributing Funds
        4. Death and Disability Benefits
        5. Portability Provisions
        6. Loans and Hardship Withdrawals


      4. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation


    5. Defined-Contribution Plans

      1. Types


        1. Pensions (Money Purchase Plans)
        2. Profit-Sharing Plans


          1. True Profit-Sharing Plans
          2. Nominal Profit-Sharing Plans
          3. Savings and Thrift Plans


        3. Stock Plans


      2. Other Design Features That Can Be Customized


        1. Sources of Contributions


          1. 401(k) Plans
          2. 403(b) Plans
          3. 457 Plans
          4. The Federal Thrift Savings Plan


        2. Investment Control
        3. Options for Distributing Funds
        4. Death and Disability Benefits
        5. Portability Provisions
        6. Loans and Hardship Withdrawals


  2. Individual Retirement Accounts


    1. Legislative History of IRAs


    2. Traditional IRAs


      1. Contributions to Traditional IRAs
      2. Withdrawals from Traditional IRAs


    3. Roth IRAs


      1. Contributions to Roth IRAs
      2. Withdrawals from Roth IRAs


    4. "Saver's Credit" for Low-Income Contributors


  3. Other Tax Incentives for Personal Saving


    1. Interest on Government Bonds


      1. State and Local Bonds
      2. U.S. Savings Bonds


    2. Earnings of Insurance Products


      1. Life Insurance
      2. Annuities


    3. Capital Gains


      1. Unrealized Gains
      2. Realized Gains


        1. Sale of Principal Residence
        2. Other Realized Gains


    4. Education Saving


      1. Coverdell Education Savings Accounts
      2. Qualified Tuition Programs (529 Plans)


    5. Health Savings Accounts