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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 11:32:57 PM

Can contributions to a school employee retirement plan be deducted?

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1 Best answer
Alumni
May 31, 2019 11:33:09 PM

(Previous answer deleted due to revised response from OP. Pre-tax contributions are not treated as "basis".)

If your contributions are in W-2 Box 14, they have already been deducted from W-2 Box 1 (and possibly state boxes); you do not get to deduct them again. (Edit: W-2 Box 5, and possibly Box 3, will be bigger than Box 1 by the amount of these and any other pre-tax retirement contributions.) These are so-called 414(h)(2) pre-tax contributions, which are unique to state and local government pension plans (including most schools).

7 Replies
Alumni
May 31, 2019 11:32:59 PM

Generally not as a deduction per se. Are they reported on your W-2? If so, how?

Level 15
May 31, 2019 11:33:01 PM

If it's a tax deferred qualified plan, then yes. But then, that should already be reported as such in box 12 of your W-2.

New Member
May 31, 2019 11:33:04 PM

It is listed as a deduction on my paystub...not listed on the W-2

New Member
May 31, 2019 11:33:05 PM

Listed on Line 14 Other-RETIREMENT on W-2

New Member
May 31, 2019 11:33:06 PM

Thanks!

Alumni
May 31, 2019 11:33:07 PM

Note my edited answer. The answer is different for W-2 Box 14 vs. not on W-2 at all.

Alumni
May 31, 2019 11:33:09 PM

(Previous answer deleted due to revised response from OP. Pre-tax contributions are not treated as "basis".)

If your contributions are in W-2 Box 14, they have already been deducted from W-2 Box 1 (and possibly state boxes); you do not get to deduct them again. (Edit: W-2 Box 5, and possibly Box 3, will be bigger than Box 1 by the amount of these and any other pre-tax retirement contributions.) These are so-called 414(h)(2) pre-tax contributions, which are unique to state and local government pension plans (including most schools).