Savings Account for Every American Act of 1998

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Personal Retirement Program

Title II: Tax-Exempt S.A.F.E. Accounts

Title III: Conforming Amendments to the Social Security Act

and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986

Savings Account for Every American Act of 1998 - Title I: Personal Retirement Program - Requires each covered employer to: (1) have in effect throughout each calendar year a S.A.F.E. account payroll deduction program for eligible employees; (2) deduct from the wages of each eligible employee and pay the prescribed employee contribution (6.2 percent of wages) on the employee's behalf to the employee's designated S.A.F.E. account; and (3) after the employee has maintained a S.A.F.E. account for 15 calendar years, pay into it the prescribed employer contribution (6.2 percent of wages). Prohibits the employer from receiving compensation for administering the S.A.F.E. account program. Allows amounts otherwise payable to be accumulated by the employer in certain cases.

(Sec. 103) Sets forth guidelines for the designation of S.A.F.E accounts.

(Sec. 104) Provides rules for the participation of self-employed individuals in the program (including contributions of 12.4 percent of wages).

(Sec. 105) Allows any individual who has been assigned a social security account number, and has been paid wages or has derived self-employment income, to elect to be eligible for the S.A.F.E. account program on or after January 1, 1999. Makes an election ineffective if the individual is entitled to an old age or a disability insurance benefit under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act.

(Sec. 106) Sets forth penalties for failure to establish S.A.F.E. account payroll deduction programs, failure to make required deductions, and other specified program violations.

(Sec. 107) Directs the Office of Personnel Management to study and report to the President and the Congress on how to provide for the application of this Act to Federal civilian and military personnel.

Title II: Tax-Exempt S.A.F.E. Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer a deduction from gross income of the aggregate amount paid in cash during the taxable year by or on behalf of such individual to a S.A.F.E. account.

(Sec. 201) Includes any amount distributed out of a S.A.F.E. account in the gross income of the distributee, unless: (1) the account beneficiary has attained age 59-and-a-half; (2) the account beneficiary has died; or (3) the distribution has paid for any qualified long-term health insurance contract, disability insurance, or term life insurance. Makes exceptions for certain other distributions as well. Subjects to an additional tax of 20 percent any account distribution which must be included in gross income.

Exempts a S.A.F.E. account from income taxation unless it has terminated according to certain rules.

Subjects excess contributions to S.A.F.E. accounts to the same excise tax for excess contributions to individual retirement accounts. Subjects S.A.F.E. accounts also to the excise tax for prohibited transactions.

Title III: Conforming Amendments to the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Makes conforming amendments to the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act, especially with regard to: (1) reductions in and exemptions from FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act), OASDI, and self-employment income taxes; (2) exclusion of eligible individuals from Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance coverage; and (3) the contents of mandatory annual social security account statements.