The IRS announced its intent to propose regulations for the new federal Saver’s Match, a government contribution to the retirement accounts of eligible low- and moderate-income taxpayers that begins in 2027. (IR 2026-89; Notice 2026-48, 8/7/2026)
The notice begins implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14403, which directs the government to increase public awareness of the Saver’s Match and to facilitate participation in eligible retirement savings vehicles. The Saver’s Match was created by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, P.L. 117-328, and it replaces the existing nonrefundable Saver’s Credit for contributions to retirement accounts for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.
Program details and eligibility requirements
The Saver’s Match program provides eligible low- and moderate-income taxpayers a matching government contribution paid directly to their retirement account. Unlike the current Saver’s Credit, the match is a direct government deposit rather than a credit against taxes owed. The program is designed to make saving for retirement easier and more rewarding for millions of Americans.
“Millions of low- and moderate-income Americans will have the opportunity to strengthen their retirement savings through the Saver’s Match program,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano in a statement. “The Saver’s Match makes saving easier and more rewarding by providing a direct federal contribution to an eligible taxpayer’s retirement account.”
According to the notice, an individual must be at least 18 years old by the end of the tax year, cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person’s return, cannot be a student as defined in IRC § 152(f)(2), and cannot be a “nonresident alien” unless the individual has elected to be treated as a U.S. resident. Eligibility also depends on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). For the 2027 tax year, the upper limit to receive any match is $71,000 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses, $53,250 for heads of household, and $35,500 for single filers and those married filing separately.
Calculating and claiming the government match
The Saver’s Match is calculated as a percentage of an individual’s qualified retirement savings contributions, up to a maximum of $2,000 per year. The maximum match percentage is 50%, resulting in a potential government contribution of up to $1,000 annually. Qualified contributions include those made to traditional and Roth IRAs, 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, and other specified retirement accounts.
The 50% rate is reduced as an individual’s MAGI increases, decreasing on a sliding scale until it reaches zero at the maximum limit for the filing status. For example, a single filer with MAGI of $30,000 would see the match percentage reduced from 50% to 19%, based on the formula in the notice. These income limits are scheduled to be adjusted for inflation for years after 2027.
Taxpayers will claim the match on a new Form 8880-A, Saver’s Match for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions, filed with their annual income tax return. On the form, they will provide information to demonstrate eligibility, such as MAGI, filing status, and qualified contributions, and will direct where the contribution should be sent. The IRS is still developing the methods but is considering several paths for routing payments to traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Implementation, TrumpIRA.gov, and public comment
As part of the implementation of Executive Order 14403, the Treasury Department will establish a website, TrumpIRA.gov, by January 1, 2027. The site will provide information on high-quality, low-cost IRAs, with a particular focus on independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and other workers who do not have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan.
It is anticipated that the website will list financial institutions that offer IRAs and accept Saver’s Match contributions, explain applicable cost and quality criteria, and allow individuals to filter and select accounts based on those criteria. The IRS expects that more information for IRA providers that want to be listed will become available later in 2026.
The IRS is requesting comments from the public on the rules described in the notice, and interested parties should submit them in writing on or before October 5, 2026. The notice specifically requests input on several topics, including implementing the Saver’s Match recovery tax, the methods for directing payments to IRAs and retirement plans, and procedures for financial institutions that receive improper payments.
For more on the post-2026 Saver’s Match, see Checkpoint’s Federal Tax Coordinator 2d ¶ A-4455.
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