Retirement

A widow can begin drawing the full amount of her late husband's Social Security when she is as young as 60. Then she can choose to leave her own Social Security alone, allowing it to grow in value until her full retirement age or age 70.
A widow/widower can begin benefits based on his or her own earnings record and later switch to survivors benefits or begin with survivors benefits and later switch to benefits based on his or her own record.
This is true even if the surviving spouse is filing before full retirement age. You can't do that with spousal benefits.

To stake a claim to your ex-spouse's Social Security benefits you must be married for at least 10 years.
If you make it for 10 years, you can collect a Social Security benefit based on up to half of your ex's earnings or on the basis of your own earnings whichever is higher.

Once an ex-spouse passes away, you'll be treated just like a widow or widower. If you are at least 60, you'll be able to collect your late-spouse's benefit and allow your own benefit to grow unclaimed until you reach age 70, when you can switch if your own is higher,
The longer your ex-spouse delays claiming Social Security, the better it is for you. You will get to claim half of his or her maximum Social Security. Or once you and your ex-spouse reach full retirement age (66-68) you can claim half your ex's benefit and let your own grow untouched until you're 70.

In 2013, the maximum contribution is $5,500 if you are under age 50 and $6,500 if you are older than age 50. However, you are subject to the phase out rules, based upon your income level. Please find the information on phase out rules or contact a local CPA for greater details and how it impacts our situation.
In 2014: The AGI phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is $181,000 to $191,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $178,000 to $188,000 in 2013.
For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is $114,000 to $129,000, up from $112,000 to $127,000.
For a married individual filing a separate return, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0 to $10,000

In 2016, the AGI phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is $184,000 to $194,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $183,000 to $193,000 in 2015.
For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is $117,000 to $132,000, up from $116,000 to $131,000.
For a married individual filing a separate return, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0 to $10,000.
In 2015, the AGI phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is $183,000 to $193,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $181,000 to $191,000 in 2014.
For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is $116,000 to $131,000, up from $114,000 to $129,000.
For a married individual filing a separate return, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0 to $10,000.
In 2014, For the filing status of: Married Filing Jointly AGI Phase-out range = $181,000 - $191,000
For the filing status of: Single AGI Phase-out range = $114,000 - $129,000
For the filing status of: Married filing Separately AGI Phase-out range = 0 - $10,000

If you are under full retirement age (ages 66-67 depending on date of birth) for the entire year, SSA deducts $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2013, that limit is $15,120.
In the year you reach full retirement age, SSA deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but SS only counts earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age. If you will reach full retirement age in 2013, the limit on your earnings for the months before full retirement age is $40,080.
Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, you can get your benefits with no limit on your earnings.

In 2013 wages up to $113,700 are subject to social security tax and the maximum social security withholding would be $7049.40.
Employers should withhold Social Security taxes (6.2 percent) from employee's wages up to $113,700 and withhold Medicare tax (1.45 percent) on all wages.
In 2012 wages up to $110,100 are subject to social security tax and the maximum social security withholding would be $6826.20.
Employers should withhold Social Security taxes (4.2 percent) from employee's wages up to $110,100 and withhold Medicare tax (1.45 percent) on all wages.

Generally, if your provisional income is more than a base amount, the difference is taxable,
Generally, Provisional income = total income plus half your social security received plus tax exempt interest minus certain adjustments.
The base amount is $25,000 for filing status of single, head of household, widower and married filing separately.
The base amount is $32,000 for filing status of married filing jointly.

Yes, Pension Plan Limitations have increased. The maximum amount that an employee may elect to defer to an Code Sec. 401(k) cash or deferred compensation plan is $17,500 in the 2013 tax year (up from $17,000 in 2012). The maximum amount that an employee/participant may elect to defer to a savings incentive match plan for employees (SIMPLE plan) remains at $12,000. The limitation on total annual contributions to defined contribution plans is $51,000 (up from $50,000 in 2012). The annual benefit limit for defined benefit plans is $205,000 (up from $200,000 in 2012). The limitation on deferrals for Code Sec. 457 deferred compensation plans of state and local governments and tax-exempt organizations increases from $17,000 to $16,500 in 2012. The limitation used in the definition of a highly compensated employee remains the same from $110,000 to $115,000 in 2013.