How the Income Tax Treatment of Saving and Social Security Benefits May Affect Boomers' Retirement Incomes

Publication Date: March 2008

Publisher: Tax Policy Center

Author(s): Barbara Butrica; Karen E. Smith; Eric Toder

Research Area: Banking and finance

Keywords: Elderly; Economic Well-being; Retirement/Pensions; Tax Policy

Type: Paper

Abstract:

Income tax provisions affect the buildup of retirement assets during workers' careers and after-tax income following retirement. This paper uses the Urban Institute's DYNASIM model to simulate how potential changes in the tax treatment of retirement saving, Social Security benefits, and income from assets outside retirement accounts may affect boomers' retirement incomes. Changes in the income thresholds for taxing Social Security benefits have the largest impact on middle-income boomers, while changes in contribution limits for retirement saving plans and tax rates on capital gains and dividends have the largest impact on the highest-income boomers.