Workplace plan limits for 2026
The IRS set the 2026 limit on employee salary deferrals at $24,500, up from $23,500 in 2025. The same limit covers 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, governmental 457 plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan. It counts what you put in from your paycheck, whether pre-tax or Roth. Employer contributions are on top of it.
Catch-up contributions at 50 and between 60 and 63
| Age in 2026 | Extra you can add | Total employee limit |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | None | $24,500 |
| 50 to 59, or 64 and older | $8,000 | $32,500 |
| 60 to 63 | $11,250 | $35,750 |
The general catch-up went up from $7,500 in 2025 to $8,000. The higher catch-up for ages 60 to 63 stays at $11,250 and replaces the general one, so the two are not added together. Your plan has to offer catch-up contributions for you to use them.
IRA limits for 2026
You can put up to $7,500 into traditional and Roth IRAs combined in 2026, up from $7,000. From age 50 the IRA catch-up is $1,100, so the total is $8,600. The IRA limit is separate from the workplace plan limit, so you can contribute to both in the same year.
If you or your spouse has a workplace plan, the tax deduction for a traditional IRA phases out at these incomes:
- Single, covered by a workplace plan: $81,000 to $91,000
- Married filing jointly, contributing spouse covered: $129,000 to $149,000
- Not covered, but married to someone who is: $242,000 to $252,000
- Married filing separately, covered: $0 to $10,000
Roth IRA income phase-out ranges
How much you can put into a Roth IRA depends on your modified adjusted gross income. Below the range you can contribute the full amount; inside it the limit shrinks; above it you cannot contribute directly.
| Filing status | 2026 phase-out range | 2025 range |
|---|---|---|
| Single or head of household | $153,000 to $168,000 | $150,000 to $165,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 to $252,000 | $236,000 to $246,000 |
| Married filing separately | $0 to $10,000 | $0 to $10,000 |
The IRS usually announces the next year's limits in October or November. The 2027 figures had not been published when this page was last checked in October 2026.
What it means for your monthly budget
Divide the yearly limit by 12 to see what reaching it takes each month:
- 401(k), 403(b) or 457 under 50: about $2,042 a month
- With the age 50 catch-up: about $2,708 a month
- Ages 60 to 63: about $2,979 a month
- IRA under 50: $625 a month; from 50: about $717 a month
Few households max out, and you do not have to. Pick an amount you can keep every month, raise it when your pay goes up, and make sure your employer match is not left on the table.