New Tax Laws for 2015: 10 Important Changes You Need to Know

Photo: Flickr user Alan Cleaver

Each year, the U.S. code undergoes some changes that can change the amount we owethe IRS some Tax Day. Staying on top of important changes can help you save more and sometimes avoid headaches and hassles. Here are some key changes to know about.

For starters, here's a nonstarter: Some have heard that the Obama administration, in order to save the government money, is delaying 2014 tax refunds until October.Snopes.com, though, confirms that that this is a hoax. So don't fret about that. File your return by the April 15, 2015, deadline and you should receive your refund within about 21 days. You can now check on the status of your refund via the IRS' "Where's My Refund?" tool.

On to some actual changes, most of which are good news.

401(k) contribution limits riseFor 2014, the contribution limit for 401(k) retirement accounts is $17,500, plus another $5,500 "catch-up" contribution for those 50 or older. Those limits, which remained fixed from 2013 to 2014, rise next year to $18,000, along with a $6,000 catch up for those 50 and above. Employer-based retirement plans such as 401(k)s can be powerful savings builders, especially if you grab all the employer matching funds available. These numbers also apply to 403(b) plans, most 457 plans, and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan. Note that to qualify for the catch-up contributions, you need to reach the minimum eligibility age of 50at any time during 2015, so a Dec. 31 birthday does not decrease your eligibility.

Traditional IRA deduction eligibility widensIRA contribution limits remain the same in 2015 as 2014 -- capped for most of us at $5,500, with a $1,000 catch-up contribution allowed for those 50 and older. But some other IRA rules change. Your ability to deduct traditional IRA contributions from your taxable income is income-limited, with allowed amounts phased out as your income rises. The limits have been made a bit more generous for 2015. From the IRS:

Some people, such as Carl Icahn, are too wealthy to take advantage of IRAs. Credit: Insider Monkey

Roth IRA eligibility widens, tooTthe Roth IRA's eligibility is also expanding a bit, with the AGI phaseout range rising from between $181,000 and $191,000 in 2014 to between $183,000 and $193,000 in 2015 for married-filing-jointly couples. For single folks and heads of households, the range rises from between $114,000 and $129,000 to between $116,000 and $131,000. Those earning too much to contribute to a Roth IRA in the usual way might consider contributing to a nondeductible IRA and converting it to a Roth IRA.

IRA rollovers limitedBeginning in 2015, you can only execute one IRA rollover per year.A rollover involves taking money out of one IRA, holding it for fewer than 60 days, and then plunking it into another IRA. (This does not apply to trustee-to-trustee transfers, such as when you move an IRA account and its holdings from one brokerage or trustee to another.)

The myRA debutsAnother kind of retirement account is brand new, created by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and designed to be offered through employers. The myRA, or my Retirement Account,is small in scale, but still useful, especially as a way to start socking money away for retirement. It charges no fees and offers modest, guaranteed growth, so you won't lose any money. You can start a myRA with must $25 and can add as little as $5 at a time, though more is better. (Contribution limits here are the same as for IRAs currently $5,500,plus $1,000 for those 50 and up.) Once your account reaches $15,000 in value, it has to be rolled over into a private-sector Roth IRA.

SEP IRA contribution limits riseSelf-employed folks accumulating retirement money in a SEP IRA will see their contribution limits rise from $52,000 in 2014 to $53,000 in 2015, with related compensation limits rising from $260,000 to $265,000. These numbers apply to solo 401(k)s, too.

SIMPLE IRA contribution limits riseFor 2015, you will be able to contribute as much as $12,500, up from $12,000 in 2014, plus a $3,000 catch-up contribution if you're 50 or older.

Health Savings Account eligibility rules changeYou might know that since 2013, you have been able to carry forward up to $500 in unused money from a Flexible Spending Account. (An FSA lets you set aside pre-tax dollars to be used for qualifying healthcare expenses, but most of the money must be used within the year or is forfeited.) Beginning in 2015, though, if you carry forward any money, you will no longer be eligible for a Health Savings Account. This new rule confused many people, so the IRS clarified it in a memo. It's still complicated, though, so read more about it or perhaps consult a tax professional.

Take advantage of all the tax breaks you can. Image: Flickr user Chris Tolworthy.

Tax break extenders have been put into effectThis bit of news relates to your 2014 tax return, not your 2015 return, but it's worth noting and is a very recent tax-law change. More than 50 tax breaks facing extinction were just given a retroactive one-year extension by President Barack Obama. They had expired as of Dec. 31, 2013, meaning we couldn't apply them to our 2014 returns, but they now expire on December 31, 2014. Thus, you can now again enjoy the following breaks (among many others) -- though not necessarily beyond tax year 2014, unless they're extended again:

The ability to deduct state and local sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes. (This matters a lot to those in states with no income tax.)
The ability to exclude from taxes up to $2 million on forgiven residential mortgage debt.
The deduction for mortgage insurance premiums.
The deduction for teachers of up to $250 for classroom supplies they buy on their own.
The deduction of up to $4,000 for higher education costs.
The energy-efficient home-improvements tax credit of up to $500 for qualifying improvements.

The penalty for not carrying health insurance risesLet's not forget Obamacare. Its upside is making healthcare coverage affordable for millions of Americans, but it also penalizes those who opt out. For 2014, those who did not have "minimum essential coverage" by March 31, 2014, will get socked with a penalty of 1% of your income above the tax filing threshold, or $95 per adult and $47.50 per child (up to a family maximum of $285) whichever is greater. For 2015, these jump to 2% of your income, or $325 per person and $162.50 per child, up to a family maximum of $975. These rise further in 2016.

Other new tax laws for 2015 are worth learning about, too. But you now know about most of the big ones that are most likely to affect you.

The article New Tax Laws for 2015: 10 Important Changes You Need to Know originally appeared on Fool.com.

Longtime Fool specialist Selena Maranjian, whom you can follow on Twitter, has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.