The IRS has not yet announced the 2027 401(k) contribution limits. As of 3 November 2026, no official 2027 figures have been published — but the numbers are effectively settled by the inflation data, and the leading projection puts the 2027 limit at $25,500.

What is confirmed and what is projected

  • 2026 limit (official, IRS Notice 2025-67): $24,500 for 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b) and Thrift Savings Plan accounts, with an $8,000 catch-up at age 50 and an $11,250 catch-up at ages 60 to 63
  • 2027 projection: $25,500, up $1,000 — the final estimate from actuarial firm Milliman, published 15 October 2026
  • Projected 2027 catch-ups: $8,500 at age 50+, and $11,750 for ages 60 to 63
  • Projected 2027 IRA limit: $8,000, up from $7,500
  • Why the projection is solid: the limit is set by a formula in the tax code using the July–September CPI average, and the September CPI-U came in at 336.940 — above the level needed for $25,500. The IRS simply confirms the figure in its annual notice, usually in November
  • Official 2027 HSA limits (already announced, IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24): $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage

When to expect the official announcement

The IRS announced the 2026 limits on 13 November 2025, and in recent years it has published the next year’s limits in late October or mid-November. The official 2027 notice is expected any day now. Until it arrives, do not set 2027 payroll deferral caps on the projected numbers — wait for the IRS notice.

What it means for you

  • 2026 deferrals still count against the 2026 limit of $24,500 — a new 2027 figure only matters for payroll elections that begin in January 2027
  • If the $25,500 projection holds, workers under 50 will be able to put $1,000 more into their 401(k) next year

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