If you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 at any point in 2026, you may be eligible to contribute up to $11,250 in age-based catch-up contributions to a qualifying workplace retirement plan. That amount is on top of the regular annual contribution limit—not a replacement for it—and your plan must offer the feature. SIMPLE plans have a lower, separate $5,250 higher catch-up limit.
Who qualifies for the $11,250 catch-up in 2026?
The age test is whether you attain age 60, 61, 62 or 63 during calendar year 2026. A person who turns 60 in December qualifies under the age test just as someone who turned 60 in January does. The rule applies to eligible participants in most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b) and federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts. The IRS describes this as a higher catch-up limit a plan may permit, so meeting the age test does not by itself guarantee you can make the contribution. IRS participant guidance
How the $11,250 fits with the regular limit
For 2026, the standard elective deferral limit for most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 and TSP plans is $24,500. The ordinary age-50-and-older catch-up is $8,000, while participants who attain age 60 through 63 may use the higher $11,250 catch-up instead. Someone able to contribute the full regular limit and the full higher catch-up could therefore defer as much as $35,750 in total elective deferrals for 2026, subject to compensation and plan terms. The $11,250 is the catch-up portion, not the total annual cap. IRS 2026 limit announcement
| Plan or contribution | 2026 amount | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Regular elective deferral limit for most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 and TSP plans | $24,500 | Eligible participants, subject to plan rules |
| Ordinary workplace catch-up | $8,000 | Participants age 50 or older in most covered plans |
| Higher workplace catch-up | $11,250 | Participants attaining age 60, 61, 62 or 63 during 2026 |
| SIMPLE plan ordinary catch-up | $4,000 | Participants age 50 or older |
| SIMPLE plan higher catch-up | $5,250 | Participants attaining age 60 through 63 during 2026 |
| Traditional or Roth IRA catch-up | $1,100 | IRA owners age 50 or older; separate from workplace-plan catch-ups |
The IRS confirmed the higher limit for 2026 as $11,250, rather than the ordinary $8,000 catch-up amount. IRS 2026 announcement
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Plan type matters: SIMPLE plans have different limits
Do not apply the $11,250 figure to a SIMPLE IRA or SIMPLE 401(k). In 2026, the higher age-60-through-63 catch-up for SIMPLE plans is $5,250; the ordinary age-50 catch-up is $4,000. The regular contribution limit for SIMPLE plans is also distinct from the $24,500 limit shown above. IRS SIMPLE plan guidance
What can reduce the amount you actually contribute?
Catch-up contributions are elective deferrals, and the plan must allow them. Your available amount can also be constrained by eligible compensation left after your regular deferrals, the plan’s terms, or its election procedures. Contributions must be made by the end of the plan year. Ask your plan administrator whether the age-60-to-63 catch-up is available, what election you must make, and what personal limit applies to your account. IRS catch-up contribution guidance
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Roth treatment may apply to higher earners
Beginning in 2026, workplace catch-up contributions generally must be designated Roth if your wages from the plan sponsor in the prior year exceeded $150,000. This changes the tax treatment of the catch-up contribution, not the qualifying age range or the $11,250 limit. Check with your plan administrator how the rule applies to your wages and plan. IRS 2026 limit announcement
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Related catch-ups are separate rules
403(b) service-based catch-up
Some 403(b) participants with at least 15 years of service may qualify for a separate service-based catch-up. It has its own eligibility and calculation rules; do not assume it can simply be added to the age-based catch-up without checking the plan and applicable limits. IRS 403(b) contribution-limit guidance
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IRA catch-up
The 2026 catch-up for a traditional or Roth IRA owner age 50 or older is $1,100. It is a separate IRA contribution rule, not the special workplace-plan provision for people attaining age 60 through 63. IRS IRA contribution-limit guidance
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