Is time as a full-time student truly relevant to contributing to a qualified retirement plan?

[Post169]

As I go through federal deductions

[Bsch4477]

The saver's credit is available to eligible taxpayers who contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement plan or a traditional and/or Roth IRA. ... This credit is not available to individuals under the age of 18, full-time students, or anyone claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer.

[Post169]

To confirm, if someone graduates college after having spent 5 months plus as a full time student and then goes straight into a job that allows him to immediately start investing toward retirement, the fact that he was a full-time student the same year bars him from taking any tax credit from the retirement contributions?

[Bsch4477]

Correct. 

[chashm]

You are gainfully employed.  So payroll contributions to 401(k)s, 403(b)s and the like are perfectly possible, as are IRA contributions as you have earned income.

However, you don't qualify for the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit if you were a full time student in each of 5 months or more.  My hope is (with luck) you'll have too much income next year to qualify for the credit ($33,000 cap in '21). 

Good luck and congratulations on starting early to save for retirement!

And, make sure you check out ALL the various education deductions and credits.

[fanfare]

Your 401k has to come out of your paycheck and your W-2, coming soon, will show your federal wages reduced by that much.