Saving

The 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill created Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), tax-free savings accounts for people who are covered by a "high-deductible health insurance plan," either purchased directly or on their behalf by an employer. The qualifying health insurance plan must have a deductible of at least $1,000 for single coverage and $2,000 for family coverage. Some preventative care may be covered by insurance, but all elective procedures and medicine is subject to the deductibles.

Net Savingthat is, saving after subtracting depreciation on existing physical assetsis a key determinant of long-term economic growth. Higher levels of net saving increase the accumulation of capital by Americans, and thereby raise future national income. In 2003, net national saving amounted to 1.8 percent of net national product (NNP), the lowest share since 1934.

The composition of income reported on tax returns changes markedly as income increases. On most tax returns, wages and salaries are the dominant source of income. Capital gains become more significant at higher incomes, but even at adjusted gross income (AGI) of $200,000 to $500,000, they only averaged about 12 percent of income in 2000.

In his FY2005 budget, released Monday, President Bush proposes a set of new tax-preferred saving accounts (which were first presented in last year's budget). Under the Administration's proposal, two new types of individual accountscalled Lifetime Saving Accounts (LSAs) and Retirement Saving Accounts (RSAs)would be created. This note provides information to help assess these proposals.

Over the past three decades, the private pension system has shifted toward defined contribution (DC) plans. Despite the shift, most households have little in DC and IRA assets. This report includes a table showing the value of these assets for households headed by someone approaching retirement age. In 2001, the median value of those assets was only $10,400. The data also show that the likelihood of having a DC account or IRA increases markedly as income increases.

When a gay, lesbian, or bisexual senior dies, his or her surviving partner faces a financial loss that can amount to tens of thousands of dollars because the couple cannot be recognized as legally married in the United States. Without marriage, Social Security survivor benefits are not available, retirement plans inherited from a partner are heavily taxed, and estate taxes apply to the inheritance of a home. Using data from Census 2000, this report analyzes and quantifies how the lack of legal marriage recognition affects the financial stability of same-sex senior couples.

The composition of income reported on tax returns changes markedly as income increases. On most tax returns, wages and salaries are the dominant source of income. Capital gains become more significant at higher incomes, but even at adjusted gross income (AGI) of $200,000 to $500,000, they only averaged about 12 percent of income in 2000.

Pension funding issues have an important, but often hidden impact on the finances of state governments. If pension systems are underfunded, governments must address this problem sooner or later through additional contributions to the systems. Capital gains have had a dramatic impact on state tax revenues in the last decade. However, the indirect effects of capital gains on state finances through state pension fund growth and decline have had an even greater, but overlooked effect on the long-term fiscal health of states.

A variety of recent studies have found that the United States faces a substantial fiscal gap -- that is, a sizable imbalance between projected federal outlays and receipts. A recent study by Boskin (2003) suggests these findings are overstated because they largely or entirely omit projected revenues from tax-deferred saving plans. This paper reassesses estimates of the long-term fiscal status of the United States in light of Boskin's analysis and draws three principal conclusions. First, the nation continues to face a substantial long-term fiscal gap, as conventionally estimated.

The 2001 tax act created a "saver's credit" that provides saving incentives for households with moderate income. The saver's credit provides a matching tax credit for contributions made to IRAs and 401(k) plans. The eligible contributions are limited to $2,000. Joint filers with income of $30,000 or less, and single filers with income of $15,000 or less, are eligible for a maximum 50 percent tax credit. (A 50 percent tax credit is the equivalent of a 100 percent match on an after-tax basis.)