For U.S. tax year 2026, the IRA contribution limit rises to $7,500, while the employee contribution limit for most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan rises to $24,500. Eligible savers may contribute more through catch-ups. SIMPLE and SEP plans have separate limits, and income rules can affect whether an IRA contribution is deductible or whether you can contribute to a Roth IRA.
2026 retirement contribution limits at a glance
The IRS announced these figures for tax year 2026 in its November 13, 2025 announcement; the detailed cost-of-living adjustments appear in Notice 2025-67. The table covers common account types, not every retirement plan or special rule.
| Account or limit | 2026 | 2025 | How to read the limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional and Roth IRAs combined | $7,500; $8,600 if age 50 or older | $7,000 | One shared cap across both IRA types; contributions cannot exceed taxable compensation. |
| 401(k), 403(b), most governmental 457 plans and TSP employee deferrals | $24,500; generally $32,500 with age-50 catch-up, or $35,750 for qualifying ages 60–63 | $23,500 | Employee elective deferrals; the catch-up amounts are additional. |
| SIMPLE plan salary reductions | $17,000 generally; $18,100 for certain applicable plans | $16,500 | Plan-specific higher limits may apply. |
| SIMPLE catch-up for age 50 or older | $4,000 generally; $3,850 for certain applicable plans; $5,250 for qualifying ages 60–63 | $3,500 | Additional catch-up amount; the applicable plan rules determine which limit applies. |
| SEP maximum contribution | $72,000 | $70,000 | Compensation rules apply; the maximum compensation taken into account for 2026 is $360,000. |
| Defined-contribution plan annual additions | $72,000 | $70,000 | Overall plan limit, distinct from the employee elective-deferral limit; catch-ups are treated separately. |
The age-50 IRA catch-up is $1,100, bringing the combined traditional-and-Roth IRA ceiling to $8,600 for an eligible saver. The general workplace-plan catch-up is $8,000. A qualifying participant age 60–63 may have an $11,250 higher catch-up instead. See the IRS contribution guidance and your plan administrator for rules that apply to a particular plan.
What the IRA increase means
The $7,500 IRA limit applies to the total of your traditional and Roth IRA contributions for the year, not to each account separately. For example, someone under 50 could divide contributions between the two types, but the combined amount cannot exceed $7,500 or their taxable compensation, whichever is lower. Someone age 50 or older may have a combined limit of $8,600, subject to the same compensation cap.
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That contribution ceiling does not determine whether a traditional IRA contribution is deductible or whether you qualify to contribute directly to a Roth IRA. Those are separate income- and workplace-coverage tests.
Income rules for Roth contributions and IRA deductions
For 2026, Roth IRA contribution eligibility phases out across these modified adjusted gross income ranges. The figures are phase-out ranges, not separate contribution limits.
| Filing status | 2026 Roth IRA phase-out range |
|---|---|
| Single or head of household | $153,000–$168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000–$252,000 |
| Married filing separately | $0–$10,000 |
Traditional IRA deductions may also phase out when you or your spouse are covered by a workplace retirement plan. The relevant 2026 ranges are:
- Covered taxpayer filing single or head of household: $81,000–$91,000.
- Married filing jointly, contributing spouse covered: $129,000–$149,000.
- Married filing jointly, contributor not covered but spouse covered: $242,000–$252,000.
- Married filing separately when covered: $0–$10,000.
These thresholds affect Roth eligibility or deductibility, not the basic amount you may be able to contribute. Check the IRS’s 2026 limit announcement and the rules for your filing status and coverage circumstances before deciding how much to contribute.
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Workplace-plan limits and catch-ups
The $24,500 limit is the employee elective-deferral ceiling for 401(k), 403(b), most governmental 457 plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan. It is not the same as a plan’s overall annual-additions limit. For defined-contribution plans, annual additions are generally limited to $72,000 for 2026, with catch-up contributions treated separately.
Age-eligible employees can add a catch-up contribution to the regular deferral limit. For 2026, the general age-50-and-older catch-up is $8,000, making the combined employee deferral ceiling $32,500. A qualifying participant age 60, 61, 62 or 63 may instead be eligible for the higher $11,250 catch-up, for a combined $35,750. Eligibility and implementation depend on the plan’s terms.
If you contribute to more than one workplace plan, deferrals generally aggregate for purposes of the applicable employee limit. An employer plan may also impose a lower limit than the IRS ceiling. Check the plan document or ask the administrator how payroll elections and catch-ups work in your case.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.SIMPLE and SEP plans have different ceilings
SIMPLE plans
For 2026, the general SIMPLE salary-reduction limit is $17,000, up from $16,500 in 2025. Certain applicable SIMPLE plans have a higher $18,100 limit. The general catch-up for participants age 50 or older is $4,000; it is $3,850 for certain applicable plans. Qualifying participants ages 60–63 may have a $5,250 catch-up. Which figure applies depends on the plan type and the participant’s age.
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SEP plans
The maximum SEP contribution for 2026 is $72,000, compared with $70,000 in 2025. SEP contribution calculations are subject to compensation rules; for 2026, the IRS sets the maximum compensation taken into account at $360,000. The maximum is not a flat amount every participant automatically receives.
Why the limits changed
The IRS adjusts many retirement-plan dollar limits for cost-of-living increases under statutory rules. Notice 2025-67 sets out the resulting tax-year 2026 figures. The change raises the IRA ceiling by $500 and the principal workplace-plan elective-deferral ceiling by $1,000 from their 2025 levels.
Quick Recap
How to apply the 2026 limits
- Identify the account and contribution type. Separate an IRA contribution from workplace salary deferrals, SIMPLE salary reductions, SEP contributions and an overall plan annual-additions limit.
- Check age and plan eligibility. Determine whether the standard age-50 catch-up or the special age-60–63 catch-up is available under your plan.
- For an IRA, check compensation and income rules. Your traditional and Roth contributions share one ceiling; compensation caps the amount, while income and workplace coverage can affect Roth eligibility or deduction status.
- Confirm your employer plan’s actual rules. The plan may set a lower limit, and contributions to multiple workplace plans can count toward the applicable employee-deferral ceiling.
- Set or review payroll and account contributions for tax year 2026. Confirm with the plan administrator or tax professional how your chosen amount will be treated if your situation involves multiple plans or IRA eligibility limits.
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