What Is a Pre-Tax Deduction?


Pre-tax deductions are payments for benefits made directly from an employee’s paycheck before any taxes are withheld. Pre-tax and post-tax benefits deductions are the two types of benefits deductions. 

Pre-tax deductions lower an employee’s taxable income, allowing them to save money on their federal income tax return. 

According to the IRS, certain benefits are eligible for pre-tax deductions. Small businesses can benefit from pre-tax deductions because they reduce the employer’s tax burden.

In this topic, we will cover:

What Does Pre-Tax Deduction Mean?

A pre-tax deduction occurs when an employer deducts money from an employee’s paycheck to cover the cost of benefits before deducting money to cover taxes. 

When an employee pays for benefits like health insurance with pre-tax dollars, the deduction is deducted from their gross income before taxes.

What’s the Difference Between Pre-Tax and After-Tax Deductions?

There are two types of deductions in paychecks: pre-tax and after-tax. Some work benefits can be deducted before taxes, while others must be deducted after taxes. 

Here are the distinctions between pre-tax and after-tax deductions:

Pre-Tax Deductions

Pre-tax deductions are deductions made from an employee’s gross pay before taxes are deducted from the total. Pre-tax deductions lower an employee’s taxable income because they are taken before withholding taxes are deducted. 

Workers pay less income tax or FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act), which includes Medicare and Social Security, as a result of this.

Businesses can benefit from pre-tax deductions by lowering the taxes they pay, such as the Federal Unemployment Tax (FUCA), State Unemployment Insurance (SUI), and FICA.

Each type of deduction has its own set of rules that govern how it is applied. Some deductions are pre-tax for all types of taxes, whereas others may still require withholding of certain taxes.

Pre-tax deductions are commonly available for a variety of benefits, including:

  • Health Insurance: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are typically classified as pre-tax deductions because they are employer-sponsored health insurance plans that include medical and dental benefits. 
  • Life Insurance: Up to $50,000 in life insurance coverage per employee, group-term life insurance is exempt from all applicable taxes.
  • Retirement Funds: Contributions made by employees to certain retirement savings plans, such as a 401(k) plan, are frequently pre-tax deductions. 
  • Pre-tax Deductions for Commuter Benefits: Some commuter benefits, such as public transportation passes and parking fees, are classified as pre-tax deductions.

After-Tax Deductions

After all, taxes have been withheld, post-tax deductions are taken from an employee’s paycheck. 

Following are some examples of common after-tax deductions:

  • For example, a Roth 401(k) is a small business retirement fund.
  • Insurance for people with disabilities
  • Contributions to charity
  • Garnishments are legal actions taken against people who owe money but haven’t paid it.

Can You Claim Pre-Tax Deductions?

Is it possible for an employee to claim a deduction on their tax return for items that were already deducted before taxes? 

Nope! Employee benefits paid with pre-tax deductions cannot be claimed on income tax returns. Because the amount of the deductions isn’t included in your gross income, you’ve already gotten a tax break by not having to pay taxes on the money. You’d be double-dipping if you claimed it on your taxes.

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