If a spouse is not covered by a retirement plan at work but the other spouse is, the noncovered spouse can take a deduction if the couple’s MAGI is less than $196,000.
On the flip side, they are making Jill’s account and RMD bigger, but hopefully, those RMDs will be taxed at a lower rate due to the loss of Jill’s employment income.
Their tax pro points out that Jack will be reducing his QBI deduction by contributing to a SEP compared to making the entire $25,000 contribution to Jill’s 403(b).
By contributing $12,500 to Jack’s SEP, he would be reducing his QBI and the deduction to $87,500 ($100,000 QBI – $12,500 SEP contribution) and $17,500 ($87,500 new QBI multiplied by 20%), respectively.