News & Updates

The IRS today also issued technical guidance regarding all cost‑of‑living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2025 in Notice 2024-80 PDF, posted today on IRS.gov.

Highlights of changes for 2025

The annual contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is increased to $23,500, up from $23,000.

The limit on annual contributions to an IRA remains $7,000. The IRA catch‑up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 and over was amended under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0) to include an annual cost‑of‑living adjustment but remains $1,000 for 2025.

The catch-up contribution limit that generally applies for employees aged 50 and over who participate in most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan remains $7,500 for 2025. Therefore, participants in most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan who are 50 and older generally can contribute up to $31,000 each year, starting in 2025. Under a change made in SECURE 2.0, a higher catch-up contribution limit applies for employees aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 who participate in these plans. For 2025, this higher catch-up contribution limit is $11,250 instead of $7,500.

The income ranges for determining eligibility to make deductible contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), to contribute to Roth IRAs and to claim the Saver’s Credit all increased for 2025.

Taxpayers can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if they meet certain conditions. If during the year either the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work, the deduction may be reduced, or phased out, until it is eliminated, depending on filing status and income. (If neither the taxpayer nor the spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the phase-outs of the deduction do not apply.) Here are the phase‑out ranges for 2025:

• For single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is increased to between $79,000 and $89,000, up from between $77,000 and $87,000.
• For married couples filing jointly, if the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is increased to between $126,000 and $146,000, up from between $123,000 and $143,000.
• For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement plan and is married to someone who is covered, the phase-out range is increased to between $236,000 and $246,000, up from between $230,000 and $240,000.
• For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.
• The income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is increased to between $150,000 and $165,000 for singles and heads of household, up from between $146,000 and $161,000. For married couples filing jointly, the income phase-out range is increased to between $236,000 and $246,000, up from between $230,000 and $240,000. The phase-out range for a married individual filing a separate return who makes contributions to a Roth IRA is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.
• The income limit for the Saver’s Credit (also known as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is $79,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $76,500; $59,250 for heads of household, up from $57,375; and $39,500 for singles and married individuals filing separately, up from $38,250.
• The amount individuals can generally contribute to their SIMPLE retirement accounts is increased to $16,500, up from $16,000. Pursuant to a change made in SECURE 2.0, individuals can contribute a higher amount to certain applicable SIMPLE retirement accounts. For 2025, this higher amount remains $17,600.
• The catch-up contribution limit that generally applies for employees aged 50 and over who participate in most SIMPLE plans remains $3,500 for 2025. Under a change made in SECURE 2.0, a different catch-up limit applies for employees aged 50 and over who participate in certain applicable SIMPLE plans. For 2025, this limit remains $3,850. Under a change made in SECURE 2.0, a higher catch-up contribution limit applies for employees aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 who participate in SIMPLE plans. For 2025, this higher catch-up contribution limit is $5,250.

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Notable changes for tax year 2025

The tax year 2025 adjustments described below generally apply to income tax returns to be filed starting tax season 2026. The tax items for tax year 2025 of greatest interest to many taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:

• Standard deductions. For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately for tax year 2025, the standard deduction rises to $15,000 for 2025, an increase of $400 from 2024. For married couples filing jointly, the standard deduction rises to $30,000, an increase of $800 from tax year 2024. For heads of households, the standard deduction will be $22,500 for tax year 2025, an increase of $600 from the amount for tax year 2024.
  
• Marginal rates. For tax year 2025, the top tax rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $626,350 ($751,600 for married couples filing jointly). The other rates are:
  • 35% for incomes over $250,525 ($501,050 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 32% for incomes over $197,300 ($394,600 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 24% for incomes over $103,350 ($206,700 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 22% for incomes over $48,475 ($96,950 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 12% for incomes over $11,925 ($23,850 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 10% for incomes $11,925 or less ($23,850 or less for married couples filing jointly).
    
• Alternative minimum tax exemption amounts. For tax year 2025, the exemption amount for unmarried individuals increases to $88,100 ($68,650 for married individuals filing separately) and begins to phase out at $626,350. For married couples filing jointly, the exemption amount increases to $137,000 and begins to phase out at $1,252,700.
  
• Earned income tax credits. For qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, the tax year 2025 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amount is $8,046, an increase from $7,830 for tax year 2024. The revenue procedure contains a table providing maximum EITC amount for other categories, income thresholds and phase-outs.
  
• Qualified transportation fringe benefit. For tax year 2025, the monthly limitation for the qualified transportation fringe benefit and the monthly limitation for qualified parking rises to $325, increasing from $315 in tax year 2024.
  
• Health flexible spending cafeteria plans. For the taxable years beginning in 2025, the dollar limitation for employee salary reductions for contributions to health flexible spending arrangements rises to $3,300, increasing from $3,200 in tax year 2024. For cafeteria plans that permit the carryover of unused amounts, the maximum carryover amount rises to $660, increasing from $640 in tax year 2024.
  
• Medical savings accounts. For tax year 2025, participants who have self-only coverage the plan must have an annual deductible that is not less than $2,850 (a $50 increase from the previous tax year), but not more than $4,300 (an increase of $150 from the previous tax year).
• The maximum out-of-pocket expense amount rises to $5,700, increasing from $5,550 in tax year 2024.
• For family coverage in tax year 2025, the annual deductible is not less than $5,700, increasing from $5,550 in tax year 2024; however, the deductible cannot be more than $8,550, an increase of $200 versus the limit for tax year 2024. For family coverage, the out-of-pocket expense limit is $10,500 for tax year 2025, rising from $10,200 in tax year 2024.
  
• Foreign earned income exclusion. For tax year 2025, the foreign earned income exclusion increases to $130,000, from $126,500 in tax year 2024.
  
• Estate tax credits. Estates of decedents who die during 2025 have a basic exclusion amount of $13,990,000, increased from $13,610,000 for estates of decedents who died in 2024.
  
• Annual exclusion for gifts increases to $19,000 for calendar year 2025, rising from $18,000 for calendar year 2024.
  
• Adoption credits. For tax year 2025, the maximum credit allowed for an adoption of a child with special needs is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $17,280, increased from $16,810 for tax year 2024.

Unchanged for tax year 2025

By statute, certain items that were indexed for inflation in the past are currently not adjusted.

• Personal exemptions for tax year 2025 remain at 0, as in tax year 2024. The elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
  
• Itemized deductions. There is no limitation on itemized deductions for tax year 2025, as in tax year 2024 and preceding, to tax year 2018. The limitation on itemized deductions was eliminated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
  
• Lifetime learning credits. The modified adjusted gross income amount used by taxpayers to determine the reduction in the Lifetime Learning Credit provided in Sec. 25A(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code is not adjusted for inflation for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2020. The Lifetime Learning Credit is phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 for joint returns).

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Individuals and businesses in six counties that previously did not qualify for relief under either Hurricane Debby or Hurricane Helene will receive disaster tax relief beginning Oct. 5, 2024, and concluding on May 1, 2025. They are Broward, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and St. Lucie.

In addition, individuals and businesses in 20 counties previously receiving relief under Debby, but not Helene will receive disaster tax relief under Hurricane Milton, from Aug. 1, 2024, thru May 1, 2025. They are Baker, Brevard, Clay, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lake, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties.

As a result, affected taxpayers in all of Florida now have until May 1, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, including 2024 individual and business returns normally due during March and April 2025 and 2023 individual and corporate returns with valid extensions and quarterly estimated tax payments.

The IRS is offering relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Individuals and households that reside or have a business in any one of the localities listed above qualify for tax relief. The current list of eligible localities is always available on the Tax relief in disaster situations page on IRS.gov.

Filing and payment relief

Hurricane Milton-related tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred beginning on Oct. 5, 2024, and ending on May 1, 2025 (postponement period). As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until May 1, 2025, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period.

This means, for example, that the May 1, 2025, deadline now applies to:

• Any individual or business that has a 2024 return normally due during March or April 2025.
• Any individual, C corporation or tax-exempt organization that has a valid extension to file their calendar-year 2023 federal return. The IRS noted, however, that payments on these returns are not eligible for the extra time because they were due last spring before the hurricane occurred.

• 2024 quarterly estimated tax payments normally due on Jan. 15, 2025, and 2025 estimated tax payments normally due on April 15, 2025.
• Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on Oct. 31, 2024, Jan. 31, 2025, and April 30, 2025.

In addition, for localities affected by Hurricane Milton, penalties for failing to make payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after Oct. 5, 2024, and before Oct. 21, 2024, will be abated, as long as the deposits are made by Oct. 21, 2024. Localities eligible for this relief are: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putman, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union and Volusia counties.

Deposit penalty relief and other relief was previously provided to taxpayers affected by Debby and Helene. For details, see the Florida page on IRS.gov. The Disaster assistance and emergency relief for individuals and businesses page also has details, as well as information on other returns, payments and tax-related actions qualifying for relief during the postponement period.

The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in the disaster area. These taxpayers do not need to contact the agency to get this relief.

It is possible an affected taxpayer may not have an IRS address of record located in the disaster area, for example, because they moved to the disaster area after filing their return. In these unique circumstances, the affected taxpayer could receive a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS for the postponement period. The taxpayer should call the number on the notice to have the penalty abated.

In addition, the IRS will work with any taxpayer who lives outside the disaster area but whose records necessary to meet a deadline occurring during the postponement period are located in the affected area. Taxpayers qualifying for relief who live outside the disaster area need to contact the IRS at 866-562-5227. This also includes workers assisting the relief efforts who are affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization. Disaster area tax preparers with clients located outside the disaster area can choose to use the Bulk requests from practitioners for disaster relief option, described on IRS.gov.

Additional tax relief

Individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area who suffered uninsured or unreimbursed disaster-related losses can choose to claim them on either the return for the year the loss occurred (in this instance, the 2024 return normally filed next year), or the return for the prior year (the 2023 return filed this year). Taxpayers have extra time – up to six months after the due date of the taxpayer’s federal income tax return for the disaster year (without regard to any extension of time to file) – to make the election. For individual taxpayers, this means Oct. 15, 2025. Be sure to write the FEMA declaration number – 3622–EM – on any return claiming a loss. See Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts, for details.

Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. In general, this means that affected taxpayers can exclude from their gross income amounts received from a government agency for reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses, as well as for the repair or rehabilitation of their home, or for the repair or replacement of its contents. See Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income, for details.

Additional relief may be available to affected taxpayers who participate in a retirement plan or individual retirement arrangement (IRA). For example, a taxpayer may be eligible to take a special disaster distribution that would not be subject to the additional 10% early distribution tax and allows the taxpayer to spread the income over three years. Taxpayers may also be eligible to make a hardship withdrawal. Each plan or IRA has specific rules and guidance for their participants to follow.

The IRS may provide additional disaster relief in the future.

The tax relief is part of a coordinated federal response to the damage caused by the hurricane and is based on local damage assessments by FEMA. For information on disaster recovery, visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

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Convenient electronic filing options, including IRS Free File, are still available. MilTax is a free online service that members of the military and qualifying veterans can use to file their federal income tax returns and up to three state income tax returns.

Disaster-area taxpayers and military members and their families may have extra time to file. Those with an IRS address of record in areas covered by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declarations and those returning from a combat zone may qualify for additional time to file.

Deadlines vary depending upon the disaster and locality. Details on all recent disaster relief are on the Around the nation page on IRS.gov. Currently:

• Taxpayers in parts of Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia have until Nov. 1, 2024, to file their 2023 tax year return.
• Taxpayers in all or parts of Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virgin Islands and Washington state have until Feb. 3, 2025, to file their 2023 tax year returns.
• Taxpayers affected by Helene in all or parts of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia will have until May 1, 2025, to file their 2023 tax year returns.
• Taxpayers affected by the terrorist attacks in Israel have until Sept. 30, 2025, to file their 2023 returns and pay any tax due.
• Members of the military and others serving in a combat zone typically have 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file returns and pay any taxes due.

IRS Free File and other online resources

IRS Free File is available through Oct. 15, 2024. It:

• Allows qualified taxpayers to prepare and file federal income tax returns online using guided tax preparation software.
• Is available to any person or family with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $79,000 or less in 2023.
• Includes preparation of returns claiming the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit and other important credits.

IRS Free File Fillable Forms is available for taxpayers whose 2023 AGI was greater than $79,000 and who are comfortable preparing their own tax return.

IRS Individual Online Account

To help file an accurate tax return, taxpayers can access their Individual Online Account information, including any amount owed, payments, tax records and more. The IRS lets taxpayers access most tax tools online with one account using the same login and password. New users will need their photo identification to verify their identity.

The IRS uses ID.me, a technology provider, for identity verification and sign-in services. If taxpayers have an ID.me account from a state government or federal agency, they can sign in to IRS Online Account. If they’re a new user, they’ll have to create a new ID.me account.

This identity verification process applies to IRS services including Online Account, Get Transcript Online, Online Payment Agreement, Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), Tax Pro Account, e-Services, Submit Forms 2848 and 8821 Online, and Business Tax Account.

Schedule and pay electronically

Taxpayers can file anytime and schedule their federal tax payments up to the Oct. 15, 2024, due date. They can pay online, by phone or with their mobile device and the IRS2Go app. Some other key points to keep in mind when filing and paying federal taxes electronically include:

• Convenience. Electronic payment options are easy and flexible. Taxpayers can pay when they file electronically using online tax software. Those who use a tax preparer should ask the preparer to make the tax payment through an electronic funds withdrawal from a bank account.
• Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). Convenient, safe and easy, EFTPS allows for payments online or by phone using the EFTPS Voice Response System. EFTPS payments must be scheduled by 8 p.m. ET at least one calendar day before the tax due date.
• IRS Direct Pay. This feature allows taxpayers to pay online directly from a checking or savings account for free and schedule payments up to 365 days in advance.

• Pay by card. Payments can be made with a credit card, debit card or a digital wallet option. These are available through a payment processor. The payment processor, not the IRS, charges a fee for this service.

• IRS2Go. The IRS2Go mobile app provides access to mobile-friendly payment options, including Direct Pay and debit or credit card payments.

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State and eligibility expansion

For the 2025 tax filing season, eligible taxpayers in 24 states will be able to use Direct File: 12 states that were part of the pilot last year, plus 12 new states where Direct File will be available in the upcoming filing season.

During the pilot last year, Direct File was available in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington State and Wyoming. For the 2025 tax filing season, Direct File will also be available in Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In 2025, more than 30 million taxpayers in those 24 states will be eligible to use Direct File. Additional states could still join Direct File in 2025, and several states have expressed interest or announced that they will participate in Direct File in 2026.

In addition to doubling the number of states where Direct File will be available, the service will also cover a wider range of tax situations for the 2025 filing season. During the pilot last year, Direct File covered limited tax situations, including wage income reported on a W-2 form, Social Security income, unemployment compensation and certain credits and deductions. For the 2025 filing season, Direct File will support 1099’s for interest income greater than $1,500, retirement income and the 1099 for Alaska residents reporting the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend.

During the pilot, Direct File supported taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents. This year, Direct File will also cover taxpayers claiming the Child and Dependent Care Credit, Premium Tax Credit, Credit for the Elderly and Disabled, and Retirement Savings Contribution Credits. In addition to covering taxpayers claiming the standard deduction and deductions for student loan interest and educator expenses, this year, Direct File will support taxpayers claiming deductions for Health Savings Accounts. Over the coming years, the IRS will gradually expand Direct File’s scope to support most common tax situations, focusing – in particular – on tax situations that impact working families.

“We’re excited about the improvements to Direct File and the millions more taxpayers who will be eligible to use the service this year,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “Above all, our goal is to improve the experience of tax filing itself and help taxpayers meet their obligations quickly and easily. Direct File will be a critical part of achieving that goal as we expand and improve the service.”

Direct File service improvements

Direct File is a web-based service that works on mobile phones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers. It guides taxpayers through a series of questions to prepare their federal tax return step-by-step. Last year, thousands of Direct File users got help from IRS customer service representatives through a live chat feature in English and Spanish. Once taxpayers have completed their federal tax return, the Direct File system automatically guides them to state tools to complete their state tax filings.

For the 2025 filing season, Direct File will include new features to make filing taxes quicker and easier. Direct File users can try a new chat bot to help guide them through the eligibility checker. Live chat will again be available in English and Spanish, and users can opt into additional authentication and verification, which will allow customer service representatives to provide more information.

“User experience, both within the Direct File tool and the integration with state tax systems, will continue to be the foundation for Direct File moving forward,” Werfel said. “We will focus – first and foremost – on continuing to get it right. Accuracy and comprehensive tax credit uptake will be paramount concerns to ensure taxpayers file a correct return and get the refund to which they’re entitled.”

Direct File’s role in the tax system

Following a successful pilot during the 2024 tax filing season, where more than 140,000 taxpayers across 12 states used Direct File, the IRS undertook a comprehensive review of the service and its role in the broader tax system.

Taxpayers across the country told the IRS they want more no-cost electronic filing options. The IRS heard directly from hundreds of organizations across the country, more than 100 members of Congress, individual Direct File users and from those that are interested in using Direct File. Millions of taxpayers who did not live in one of the12 pilot states visited the Direct File website to learn more about the service or asked live chat assistors to make Direct File available in their state.

In May 2024, the IRS announced that Direct File would be a permanent tax filing option, and the service is working with all states interested in participating. In the coming years, Direct File will continue to be one option among many from which taxpayers can choose, and it will complement important options, such as preparation by tax professionals or through commercial software providers, who are critical partners with the IRS in delivering a successful tax system for the nation.

The IRS also noted another side effect of the Direct File pilot was increased attention on all free filing options, including an increase in usage of Free File. The IRS remains committed to the ongoing relationship with Free File, Inc., which has served taxpayers for two decades in the joint effort to provide free commercial software. Last spring, the IRS signed a five-year extension with industry to continue Free File. As the IRS works to expand Direct File, it will work to strengthen all free filing options for taxpayers, including Free File, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program (TCE) – all of which saw increased usage and interest last year.

“Direct File is an important component of a stronger, more comprehensive tax system that gives taxpayers electronic filing options that best suit their needs,” Werfel said. “It is a critical tool in the IRS’ effort to meet taxpayers where they are, give them options to interact with us in ways that work for them and help them meet their tax obligations as easily and quickly as possible.”

Direct File will begin accepting tax returns when the filing season opens.

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