The IRS has raised the 401(k) limits for 2026. If you save for retirement through work in the USA, here is how much you can put in this year. This is a general-education guide, not financial advice.
The 2026 limits
- Employee limit: $24,500 — up from $23,500 in 2025 (IRS announcement IR-2025-111, 13 November 2025)
- Age 50+ catch-up: $8,000 — up from $7,500, so age 50+ can contribute $32,500 in total
- Ages 60–63 “super” catch-up: $11,250 — for a total of $35,750
- Total employer + employee additions limit: $72,000 in 2026
IRA limits also rose
- IRA limit: $7,500 in 2026, up from $7,000, with a $1,100 catch-up for age 50+
One new rule for 2026
Catch-up contributions by certain high earners must now go into a Roth 401(k) instead of a traditional pre-tax 401(k). The exact prior-year wage threshold for this rule should be checked against IRS Notice 2025-67 before you rely on it, as sources differ on the figure.
Related articles on HimachalGovt
- Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA in the USA: Which One Is Better for You? — https://himachalgovt.com/stories/roth-ira-vs-traditional-ira-in-the-usa-which-one-is-better-for-you/
- Best High-Yield Savings Accounts in the USA: How to Earn 4% or More on Your Cash — https://himachalgovt.com/stories/best-high-yield-savings-accounts-in-the-usa-how-to-earn-4-or-more-on-your-cash/
- Emergency Fund in the USA: How Much Do You Need and How to Build It — https://himachalgovt.com/stories/emergency-fund-in-the-usa-how-much-do-you-need-and-how-to-build-it
