The quarterly update for 12/31/2012 is a large update, affecting almost every calculator. The majority of the changes affect the functionality of the calculations, updating them to 2013 rules and regulations. The most significant calculation changes in this update were to the retirement, savings, and tax calculators. It is also the first general release of Version 3 (V3). All U.S. English calculators are now available in V3.
If you have not updated your calculators recently you should definitely refresh your existing calculator pages. All updates are cumulative, so if you start fresh with this update, you will have all previous calculator updates as well. If you would like, you can review our 9/30/2012 update: 9/30/2012 Update. (The 12/31/2012 update includes all changes included in previous updates, you do not need to download any other updates to have the most current versions of all of the calculator components.)
If you wish to upgrade to V3 please email use us at:
For more detailed information please see our frequently asked questions: FAQ
V3 calculators use JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS to display and run the calculators. There is no longer a requirement for the Java-Plugin. Upgrading to the V3 calculators has been made as easy as possible. All HTML pages retain their original name and extension to prevent broken links.
The V3 upgrade is a complete replacement of all underlying code. In addition, the minimum browser requirement for V3 is IE7. If you recieved a download notice, it will clearly state the calculator version that you have received.
As of 12/31/2012 standard U.S. English calculators have been upgraded to V3. Canadian and Spanish calculators will be available in the first quarter of 2013. Version 2 (V2) and V3 can run together from the same server in the same directory. Packages that have been upgraded to V3 that have calculators that are not yet available, will have the V2 calculators included in their download package. If you have a custom calculator that you would like upgraded please contact us for pricing and instruction.
If you wish to upgrade to V3 please email use us at:
For more detailed information please see our frequently asked questions: FAQ
When you test the new version of the calculators, make sure that the browser you are using uses the new files instead of any it may have in its cache. You may need to clear the browser's cache manually to ensure the new versions are loaded.
Please note, if you have a Servlet or other custom deployment (other than the custom formatted delivery described below), installation instructions for your package will found on your download page.
If you wish to upgrade to V3 please email use us at:
All pages will be custom formatted to your site, no further integration or modification of the calculators is required. Please note, if your custom delivery uses Active Server Pages (ASP), Java™ Server Pages (JSP) or Cold Fusion (CFM) the respective ASP, JSP or CFM pages will be in place of your HTML documents for all calculator main pages.
For V2, these changes will required you to update your HTML pages either by replacing your existing HTML pages with the new ones provided or editing the pages with the new content from this update. For V3 these changes do not require any edits or modifications to HTML pages, all changes are encapsulated within the JS files provided).
IMPORTANT! There are certain calculators that had a delay in their update. Due to delays in Congressional law changes, certain U.S. calculators normally updated to the 2013 rules, taxes and regulations on 1/3/2013 were delayed until 1/11/2013. When installing your calculator package, you should see a build date of 1/11/2013 or later.
New definition:
The actual rate of return is largely dependent on the types of investments you select. The S&P 500 for the 10 years ending Dec. 31st, 2012 had an annual compounded rate of return of 7.1%, including reinvestment of dividends. From January 1970 through the end of 2012, the average annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 10.1% (source: www.standardandpoors.com). Since 1970, the highest 12-month return was 61% (June 1982 through June 1983). The lowest 12-month return was -43% (March 2008 to March 2009). Savings accounts at a bank may pay as little as 0.25% or less but carry significantly lower risk of loss of principal balances.
It is important to remember that these scenarios are hypothetical and that future rates of return can't be predicted with certainty and that investments that pay higher rates of return are generally subject to higher risk and volatility. The actual rate of return on investments can vary widely over time, especially for long-term investments. This includes the potential loss of principal on your investment. It is not possible to invest directly in an index and the compounded rate of return noted above does not reflect sales charges and other fees that funds and/or investment companies may charge.
This affects the following 66 calculators:
| Calculator Type | Name | HTML File Changed |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Calculators | Lease vs. Buy | BuyvsLease.html |
| Business Calculators | Equipment Buy vs. Lease | BizBuyvsLease.html |
| Business Debt Consolidation Calculator | BizConsolidate.html | |
| Credit Cards and Debt Management | Consolidation Loan Investment Calculator | InvestmentDebt.html |
| Insurance Calculators | Variable Annuity Calculator | Annuity.html |
| Comprehensive Life Insurance Analysis | EnhancedLifeIns.html | |
| Health Savings Account (HSA) Goal Calculator | HSAGoal.html | |
| Health Savings Account (HSA) Savings Calculator | HSASavings.html | |
| Human Life Value | HumanLifeValue.html | |
| Life Insurance Calculator | LifeInsurance.html | |
| Investment Calculators | Annual Rate of Return Calculator | AnnualReturn.html |
| Lump Sum Annual Return Calculator | AnnualReturnAmount.html | |
| Compare Investment Fees | CompareFees.html | |
| Mutual Fund Expense Calculator | FundExpense.html | |
| Future Value Calculator | FutureValue.html | |
| Lump Sum Future Value Calculator | FutureValueAmount.html | |
| Taxable vs. Tax Advantaged Investments | InvestCompare.html | |
| Investment Savings and Distributions | InvestmentDistribution.html | |
| Investment Distributions | InvestmentDistribution2.html | |
| Investment Loan | InvestmentLoan.html | |
| Investment Returns | InvestmentReturn.html | |
| Investment Goal | InvestmentVariables.html | |
| IRR Calculator | IRRReturn.html | |
| Present Value Calculator | PresentValue.html | |
| Lump Sum Present Value Calculator | PresentValueAmount.html | |
| Personal Economic Recovery Calculator | RecoverTime.html | |
| Annual Stock Option Grants | StockGrants.html | |
| Stock Option Calculator | StockOptions.html | |
| Mortgage Calculators | Rent vs. Buy | MortgageRentvsBuy.html |
| Retirement Savings and Planning | How Important is Social Security? | NoSocial.html |
| Pension Plan Retirement Options | PensionOptions.html | |
| Traditional IRA Calculator | RegularIRA.html | |
| 401(k) Savings Calculator | Retire401k.html | |
| 403(b) Savings Calculator | Retire403b.html | |
| 457 Savings Calculator | Retire457.html | |
| 72(t) Distribution Impact | Retire72Alt.html | |
| Beneficiary Required Minimum Distributions | RetireBeneficiary.html | |
| Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) | RetireDistrib.html | |
| How long will my retirement savings last? | RetirementDistribution.html | |
| Retirement Income | RetirementIncome.html | |
| Retirement Nestegg Calculator | RetirementNestegg.html | |
| Retirement Planner | RetirementPlan.html | |
| Retirement Pension Planner | RetirementPlan3.html | |
| Retirement Planner with Retirement Earnings | RetirementPlan4.html | |
| Retirement Shortfall | RetireShort.html | |
| Individual 401(k) Savings Calculator | RetireSolo401k.html | |
| 401(k) Spend It or Save It Calculator | Rollover401k.html | |
| Roth IRA Calculator | RothIRA.html | |
| Roth IRA Conversion | RothTransfer.html | |
| Roth vs. Traditional IRA | RothvsRegular.html | |
| Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) | RothvsTraditional401k.html | |
| RMD & Stretch IRA Calculator | StretchIRA.html | |
| Savings Calculators | College Savings | CollegeSavings.html |
| Compare Savings Rates | CompareSavings.html | |
| Compound Interest and Your Return | CompoundInterest.html | |
| Savings Calculator | CompoundSavings.html | |
| Savings Distribution Calculator | DistribSavings.html | |
| Emergency Savings Calculator | Emergency.html | |
| Lunch Savings | LunchSaver.html | |
| Cool Million | Millionaire.html | |
| Savings Goals | Savings.html | |
| Savings, Taxes, and Inflation | SavingsVariables.html | |
| Benefit of Spending Less | SpendLess.html | |
| Vice Savings | ViceSaver.html | |
| Don't Delay Your Savings! | WaitCost.html |
This is what you expect for the average long-term inflation rate. A common measure of inflation in the U.S. is the Consumer Price Index (CPI). From 1925 through 2012 the CPI has a long-term average of 3.0% annually. Over the last 31 years highest CPI recorded was 13.5% in 1980.
This affects the following 25 calculators:
| Calculator Type | Name | HTML File Changed |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Calculators | Disability Insurance | Disability.html |
| Health Savings Account (HSA) Goal Calculator | HSAGoal.html | |
| Health Savings Account (HSA) Savings Calculator | HSASavings.html | |
| Human Life Value | HumanLifeValue.html | |
| Life Insurance Calculator | LifeInsurance.html | |
| Long Term Care Calculator | LongtermCare.html | |
| Investment Calculators | Investment Savings and Distributions | InvestmentDistribution.html |
| Investment Distributions | InvestmentDistribution2.html | |
| Investment Returns | InvestmentReturn.html | |
| Investment Goal | InvestmentVariables.html | |
| Personal Economic Recovery Calculator | RecoverTime.html | |
| Mortgage Calculators | Rent vs. Buy | MortgageRentvsBuy.html |
| Retirement Savings and Planning | How Important is Social Security? | NoSocial.html |
| How long will my retirement savings last? | RetirementDistribution.html | |
| Retirement Income | RetirementIncome.html | |
| Retirement Nestegg Calculator | RetirementNestegg.html | |
| Retirement Planner | RetirementPlan.html | |
| Retirement Pension Planner | RetirementPlan3.html | |
| Retirement Planner with Retirement Earnings | RetirementPlan4.html | |
| Retirement Shortfall | RetireShort.html | |
| Social Security Benefits | SocialSecurity.html | |
| Company Stock Distribution Analysis Calculator | StockRollover401k.html | |
| Savings Calculators | Cool Million | Millionaire.html |
| Savings Goals | Savings.html | |
| Savings, Taxes, and Inflation | SavingsVariables.html |
Have been finalized for 2013 changes. The limits and amounts were increased slightly from 2013 for all HSA calculations. All calculators were updated to indicate the new 2013 amounts. Income tax brackets and rates were updated to 2013. This includes the following:
This affects the following calculators:
| HTML File Changed | Name |
|---|---|
| HSABusiness.html | Employer Benefit |
| HSAContribution.html | Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution Calculator |
| HSASavings.html | Health Savings Account (HSA) Savings Calculator |
| HSAvsTraditional.html | Health Savings Account (HSA) vs. Traditional Health Plan |
| HSAGoal.html | Health Savings Account (HSA) Goal Calculator |
Definition for long term card costs has been updated to:
The default daily value was increased to $222.
Each of these calculators has been updated to the new withholding rates for 2013 as published in IRS Notice 1036 (Rev. January 2013) Income Tax Withholding Tables for 2013. The associated withholding tables have been updated as well as the calculations. In addition, the definitions and calculations have been updated to reflect that the calculator is using the 2013 amounts.
This affects the following calculators:
| HTML File Changed | Name |
|---|---|
| Payroll.html | Payroll Deductions |
| PayrollHourly.html | Hourly Paycheck Calculator |
| Payroll125.html | Section 125 Cafeteria Plan |
| PayrollGross.html | Net to Gross Paycheck Calculator |
| 457Payroll.html | 457 Payroll Calculator |
| IncomeOneorTwo.html | Should my spouse work? |
| RetirePayrollSavings.html | Retirement Contribution Effects on Your Paycheck |
| RetirePayrollSavings2.html | Retirement Contribution Effects on Your Paycheck |
| SPPayroll.html | Cheque deducciones y retenciones |
| SPRetirePayrollSavings.html | Efectos de sus Aportaciones a su Jubilación sobre su Cheque de Paga |
The 2013 Withholding tables are as follows:
Single Withholding Rates 2013*
|
Annual taxable income between these amounts |
Annual withholding |
Withhold additional % of income over this amount |
||
|
$0.00 |
$2,200.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
|
$2,200.00 |
$11,125.00 |
$0.00 |
plus 10% of income over $2,200.00 |
|
|
$11,125.00 |
$38,450.00 |
$892.50 |
plus 15% of income over $11,125.00 |
|
|
$38,450.00 |
$90,050.00 |
$4,991.25 |
plus 25% of income over $38,450.00 |
|
|
$90,050.00 |
$185,450.00 |
$17,891.25 |
plus 28% of income over $90,050.00 |
|
|
$185,450.00 |
$400,550.00 |
$44,603.25 |
plus 33% of income over $185,450.00 |
|
|
$400,550.00 |
$402,200.00 |
$115,586.25 |
plus 35% of income over $400,550.00 |
|
|
$402,200.00 |
(no limit) |
$116,163.75 |
plus 39.6% of income over $402,200.00 |
|
Married Withholding Rates 2013*
|
Annual taxable income between these amounts |
Annual withholding |
Withhold additional % of income over this amount |
||
|
$0.00 |
$8,300.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00; |
|
|
$8,300.00 |
$26,150.00 |
$0.00 |
plus 10% of income over $8,300.00 |
|
|
$26,150.00 |
$80,800.00 |
$1,785.00 |
plus 15% of income over $26,150.00 |
|
|
$80,800.00 |
$154,700.00 |
$9,982.50 |
plus 25% of income over $80,800.00 |
|
|
$154,700.00 |
$231,350.00 |
$28,457.50 |
plus 28% of income over $154,700.00 |
|
|
$231,350.00 |
$406,650.00 |
$49,919.50 |
plus 33% of income over $231,350.00 |
|
|
$406,650.00 |
$458,300.00 |
$107,768.50 |
plus 35% of income over $406,650.00 |
|
|
$458,300.00 |
(no limit) |
$125,846.00 |
plus 39.6% of income over $458,300.00 |
|
| U.S. Undergraduate College Costs for 2012-13 School Year Source: College Board's 2012 Trends in College Pricing, www.collegeboard.com | ||||
| Type | Tuition and fees | Room & Board | Total | Change from 2011-12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public 4-Year (in-state tuition) | $8,655 | $9,205 | $17,860 | 4.2% |
| Public 4-Year (out-of-state tuition) | $21,706 | $9,205 | $30,911 | 4.1% |
| Private 4-Year | $29,056 | $10,462 | $39,518 | 4.1% |
If your income falls in a "phase-out" range you are allowed only a prorated Roth IRA contribution. If your income exceeds the phase-out range, you do not qualify for any Roth IRA contribution. The table below summarizes the income "phase-out" ranges for Roth IRAs.
| Tax filing status | 2013 Income Phase-Out Range |
| Married filing jointly or Head of household | $178,000 to $188,000 |
| Single | $112,000 to $127,000 |
| Married filing separately* | $0 to $10,000 |
| Calculator Name | HTML File Changed |
|---|---|
| 401(k) Net Unrealized Appreciation vs. Rollover | StockRollover401k.html |
| Municipal Bond Tax Equivalent Yield | TaxEquivYeild.html |
| Mortgage Debt Consolidation | MortgageConsolidate.html |
| Roth 401(k) or Traditional 401(k)? | RothvsTraditional401k.html, Compare401k.html |
| Pre-tax or Roth (after tax) Account? | RothvsPreTaxAccount.html |
| 401(k) Spend It or Save It Calculator | Rollover401k.html |
| Investment Goal Calculator | InvestmentVariables.html |
| Roth IRA Conversion | RothTransfer.html |
| Roth IRA Conversion with Distributions | RothConversion.html |
| Retirement Plan Withdrawal | RetirementWithdrawal.html |
| REIT Tax-Equivalent Distribution | REITTaxEquivYield.html |
| Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution Calculator | HSAContribution.html |
| Health Savings Account (HSA) Savings Calculator | HSASavings.html |
| Health Savings Account (HSA) vs. Traditional Health Plan | HSAvsTraditional.html |
| Taxable vs. Tax Advantaged Investments | InvestCompare.html |
NOTE:The actual tax calculators will be updated at the end of the tax season, in the 3/31/2012 update.
Calculations and definitions updated for 2013, the income limit of $113,700 for FICA or the annual maximum benefits of $30,396 per year for a single person and 1.5 times this amount for a married couple.
These changes affect the following calculators:
| Calculator Name | HTML File Changed |
|---|---|
| Social Security Calculator | SocialSecurity.html |
| How important is Social Security? | NoSocial.html |
| Retirement Planner | RetirementPlan.html |
| Retirement Pension Planner | RetirementPlan3.html |
| Retirement Nestegg Calculator | RetirementNestegg.html |
| Your Number & Retirement Income Plan | RetirementNumber.html |
| Retirement Planner with Retirement Earnings | RetirementPlan4.html |
The definitions of Social Security in each of these calculators has been updated to the following:
Social Security is based on a sliding scale depending on your income, how long you work and at what age you retire. Social Security benefits automatically increases each year based on increases in the Consumer Price Index. Including a spouse increases your Social Security benefits by 1.5 times your individual estimated benefit. Please note that this calculator assumes that only one of the spouses work. Benefits could be different if your spouse worked and earned a benefit higher than one half of your benefit. If you are a married couple, and both spouses work, you may need to run the calculation twice - once for each spouse and their respective income. This calculator provides only an estimate of your benefits.
The calculations use the 2013 FICA income limit of $113,700 with an annual maximum Social Security benefit of $30,396 per year for a single person and 1.5 times this amount for a married couple. To receive the maximum benefit would require earning the maximum FICA salary for nearly your entire career. You would also need to begin receiving benefits at your full retirement age of 66 or 67 (depending on your birthdate). Your actual benefit may be lower or higher depending on your work history and the complete compensation rules used by Social Security.
How taxes are applied to an investment can make an incredible difference. Starting in 2009 all Canadians 18 and older have a new option to save where all earnings and withdrawals are tax free. As of January 2013 you are able to contribute up to $5,500 per year to a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) and make tax free withdrawals at any time for any purpose. This calculator is designed to help compare a normal taxable investment to a TFSA and a RRSP.