258
Limit lookup
Pick an account — get its exact 2026 IRS limit, catch-up, and max.
REFERENCE · MONEY · RETIREMENT
2026 Retirement Contribution Limits
Every 2026 IRS limit in one place: the 401(k) jumps to $24,500, the IRA to $7,500, the HSA to $4,400 / $8,750 — plus the catch-ups that matter most after 50, the 60–63 super catch-up, and the Roth IRA income phase-outs. Use the three lookups below to find your exact number, then check it against your plan documents before you change payroll elections.
2026 limits: every account, one table
Official 2026 figures per IRS Notice 2025-67 and IRS News Release IR-2025-111. Catch-up eligibility starts January 1 of the year you turn the qualifying age — no need to wait for your birthday.
| Account | 2026 limit | Catch-up | Max with catch-up | vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k) / 403(b) / 457(b) / TSP employee elective deferral | $24,500 | 50+: +$8,000 60–63: +$11,250 | $32,500 $35,750 | +$1,000 |
| Traditional + Roth IRA combined across all your IRAs | $7,500 | 50+: +$1,100 | $8,600 | +$500 |
| SIMPLE IRA small-business plans | $17,000 | 50+: +$4,000 60–63: +$5,250 | $21,000 $22,250 | +$500 |
| SEP IRA employer contributions only | $72,000 | none | $72,000 | +$2,000 |
| HSA — self-only needs a qualifying HDHP | $4,400 | 55+: +$1,000 | $5,400 | +$100 |
| HSA — family needs a qualifying HDHP | $8,750 | 55+: +$1,000 | $9,750 | +$200 |
Two more 2026 benchmarks worth knowing: total additions to a 401(k) (your money + employer money) cap at $72,000, and only the first $360,000 of compensation counts. New for 2026: if you earned more than $150,000 in FICA wages last year, workplace catch-up contributions must go in as Roth (after-tax) dollars.
Roth IRA income phase-outs, 2026
Your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) decides how much of the $7,500 you may contribute directly. Inside the range, the limit shrinks proportionally; above it, the backdoor Roth is the remaining route.
| Filing status | Full $7,500 below | Phase-out range | $0 direct at/above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single / head of household | $153,000 | $153,000–$168,000 | $168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 | $242,000–$252,000 | $252,000 |
| Married filing separately (lived together) | — | $0–$10,000 | $10,000 |
The married-filing-separately window is set by statute and never adjusts for inflation — in practice it bars almost everyone who lived with a spouse. Lived apart the entire year? You are treated as single and get the $153,000–$168,000 range instead.
5 rules that trip people up
- The HSA catch-up is 55+, not 50+. Every other account unlocks catch-ups at 50; the HSA waits until 55 — and it ends the month you enroll in Medicare. Each spouse 55+ gets their own $1,000 on family coverage, but it must go into their own HSA.
- The IRA $7,500 is combined, not per account. Split it between Traditional and Roth however you like, but the total across every IRA you own cannot exceed $7,500 ($8,600 at 50+).
- The 60–63 super catch-up replaces the regular one. At 60–63 you get $11,250 extra on a 401(k) — not $11,250 plus the $8,000. At 64 it drops back to $8,000.
- Catch-ups are use-or-lose each year. Unused 2026 room does not roll into 2027. If you are 50+ and have the cash flow, fund the catch-up before the year ends.
- You have until April 15, 2027 for the IRA — but not the 401(k). IRA and HSA contributions for 2026 can be made until the tax filing deadline; 401(k) deferrals must come out of 2026 paychecks.
259
Catch-up finder
Enter your age — see every catch-up you qualify for and your total extra room.
260
Roth IRA eligibility check
Filing status plus income — full, partial, or no direct Roth contribution for 2026.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 limit | IRS Notice 2025-67 | The most you may contribute to the account for 2026. |
| Catch-up | limit + catch-up | Extra room once you reach the qualifying age (50, 55, or 60–63). |
| Roth partial amount | $7,500 × (upper − MAGI) ÷ (upper − lower) | How the direct Roth limit shrinks inside the phase-out range. |
| Extra room (catch-up finder) | 401(k) catch-up + IRA catch-up + HSA catch-up | How much more you may shelter per year than someone under 50. |
3 things savers should know
- Capture the match first. Before maxing any limit, contribute enough to your 401(k) to get the full employer match — it is an instant, guaranteed return no limit table can beat.
- The 60–63 window is the biggest lever in the table. An extra $11,250 a year for four years is $45,000 of additional tax-advantaged room — use it or lose it, one year at a time.
- Above the Roth phase-out, the backdoor still works. Contribute to a Traditional IRA (no deduction at those incomes) and convert to Roth — mind the pro-rata rule if you hold pre-tax IRA balances.
Who uses this page
- 50+ savers: exactly how much extra room each birthday unlocks — and the 60–63 super window before it closes.
- High earners: whether a direct Roth contribution survives their MAGI, and the 2026 Roth-catch-up rule.
- Open-enrollment shoppers: HSA vs 401(k) priority, and the family-coverage HSA math.
- Researchers & students: the IRS figures are public statistics — cite them with the block below.
Accuracy & limitations
Limits are the IRS 2026 cost-of-living adjustments (Notice 2025-67, Rev. Proc. 2025-19/2025-32, IR-2025-111) — official, but your plan may impose lower caps, and employer plans can restrict catch-ups or the 60–63 super catch-up. MAGI calculations have fine print (add-backs for student-loan interest, foreign exclusions, and more) — the eligibility check is a guide, not tax advice. Always confirm against IRS.gov and your plan documents before changing payroll elections.
Deciding Roth vs Traditional? Read Roth vs Traditional 401(k) and run the Roth vs Traditional IRA comparison.
Cite this referenceBright Side Kit. “2026 Retirement Contribution Limits Chart.” brightoolbox.com, 2026.
Bright Side Kit. "2026 Retirement Contribution Limits Chart." https://brightoolbox.com/2026-retirement-contribution-limits/ Accessed October 23, 2026.Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The 2026 employee elective-deferral limit is $24,500 (up from $23,500 in 2025). Savers 50+ may add an $8,000 catch-up ($32,500 total), and savers ages 60–63 get a $11,250 super catch-up ($35,750 total) under SECURE 2.0 — it replaces the standard catch-up, it does not stack. Total additions (yours + employer’s) cap at $72,000.
What is the IRA contribution limit for 2026?
$7,500 if you are under 50 (up from $7,000), or $8,600 at 50+ with the $1,100 catch-up. The limit is combined across all your Traditional and Roth IRAs — you cannot put $7,500 in each. You need at least $7,500 of earned income (or a working spouse, via the spousal IRA rule), and you have until April 15, 2027 to contribute for 2026.
What are the HSA contribution limits for 2026?
$4,400 for self-only HDHP coverage and $8,750 for family coverage. The catch-up is +$1,000 at age 55+ (not 50+) — $5,400 / $9,750 total — and each spouse 55+ gets their own $1,000 on family coverage. The catch-up ends when you enroll in Medicare. The HSA keeps its triple tax advantage: deductible in, tax-free growth, tax-free out for medical costs.
Can I contribute to a Roth IRA if I earn too much in 2026?
Direct contributions phase out for single filers between $153,000 and $168,000 of MAGI, and for joint filers between $242,000 and $252,000 — above that, direct contributions are $0. The backdoor Roth remains available: contribute to a Traditional IRA and convert. Watch the pro-rata rule if you hold pre-tax IRA balances, and note the married-filing-separately trap ($0–$10,000 window).
What is the 60–63 super catch-up?
A SECURE 2.0 provision giving workers ages 60, 61, 62, and 63 a larger catch-up: +$11,250 on 401(k)/403(b)/457 plans (for a $35,750 total in 2026) and +$5,250 on SIMPLE IRAs ($22,250). It replaces the standard 50+ catch-up during those four years — at 64 you drop back to $8,000. Your plan must allow it; not all do yet.
Do unused contribution limits roll over to next year?
No. 2026 room is use-or-lose — elective deferrals must come out of 2026 paychecks, and catch-ups do not bank for later. The one grace period: IRA and HSA contributions for 2026 may be made until April 15, 2027. If you are 50+ with the cash flow, fund the catch-up before the year ends.