401(k) and IRA contribution limits for 2026
For 2026 you can put up to $24,500 into a 401(k) and up to $7,500 into an IRA. Those are the base limits for the year. If you are age 50 or older, catch-up contributions let you add more on top: an extra $8,000 in a 401(k) and an extra $1,100 in an IRA. Savers who are age 60 to 63 get an even larger 401(k) catch-up of $11,250. The IRS set these amounts in Notice 2025-67, released November 13, 2025.
2026 contribution limits at a glance
| Account / limit | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), most 457, and TSP elective deferral | $24,500 |
| 401(k) catch-up, age 50 and older | $8,000 |
| 401(k) catch-up, age 60 to 63 | $11,250 |
| IRA (traditional or Roth) contribution | $7,500 |
| IRA catch-up, age 50 and older | $1,100 |
| Total additions to a defined contribution plan (§415(c)) | $72,000 |
Combined, that means:
- Under 50: up to $24,500 in a 401(k), plus $7,500 in an IRA.
- Age 50 to 59, or 64 and older: up to $32,500 in a 401(k) ($24,500 + $8,000), plus $8,600 in an IRA ($7,500 + $1,100).
- Age 60 to 63: up to $35,750 in a 401(k) ($24,500 + $11,250), plus $8,600 in an IRA.
What is the 401(k) limit for 2026?
The 2026 elective deferral limit is $24,500. This is the most you can contribute from your own paycheck to a 401(k). The same limit applies to 403(b) plans, most 457 plans offered by state and local governments, and the federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). It does not count money your employer adds through a match. The combined total of your contributions and your employer's is capped separately at $72,000 for 2026.
What is the IRA limit for 2026?
The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,500. This is a single shared limit across all your IRAs. If you have both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, $7,500 is the combined maximum you can add across the two, not $7,500 in each.
What are the catch-up contributions for 2026?
- 401(k) catch-up, age 50 and older: an extra $8,000, for a total of $32,500.
- 401(k) catch-up, age 60 to 63: an extra $11,250, for a total of $35,750. This higher amount comes from the SECURE 2.0 Act. It replaces the standard $8,000 catch-up for those four years; it does not stack on top of it. You qualify if you turn 60, 61, 62, or 63 at any point during 2026. At age 64 the catch-up drops back to $8,000.
- IRA catch-up, age 50 and older: an extra $1,100, for a total of $8,600.
How much can I put in total for 2026?
Your own 401(k) contributions are capped at $24,500 (plus any catch-up you qualify for). But the total that can land in your 401(k) account from all sources, your contributions plus employer match plus any after-tax contributions, is capped at $72,000 under Section 415(c). Catch-up contributions sit on top of that $72,000 ceiling. IRAs are separate and do not count toward it.
What are the Roth IRA income limits for 2026?
How much you can contribute to a Roth IRA depends on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Once your income enters the phase-out range, your allowed contribution shrinks. Above the top of the range, you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA directly.
| Filing status | 2026 phase-out range |
|---|---|
| Single or head of household | $153,000 to $168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 to $252,000 |
| Married filing separately | $0 to $10,000 |
Below the bottom of your range, you can contribute the full $7,500 ($8,600 if 50 or older). Inside the range, your limit is reduced. At or above the top, direct Roth IRA contributions are not allowed. The married-filing-separately range is fixed by law at $0 to $10,000 and does not adjust for inflation.
Did the limits change from 2025?
Most went up.
| Limit | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k) elective deferral | $23,500 | $24,500 |
| 401(k) catch-up, age 50+ | $7,500 | $8,000 |
| 401(k) catch-up, age 60 to 63 | $11,250 | $11,250 (no change) |
| IRA contribution | $7,000 | $7,500 |
| IRA catch-up, age 50+ | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| Total additions (§415(c)) | $70,000 | $72,000 |
| Roth phase-out, single/HoH | $150,000 to $165,000 | $153,000 to $168,000 |
| Roth phase-out, married joint | $236,000 to $246,000 | $242,000 to $252,000 |
The age 60 to 63 catch-up held steady at $11,250. Everything else rose with the cost-of-living adjustment.
Sources
- All 2026 limits and the 2025 comparison figures: IRS newsroom, "401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026".
- The underlying cost-of-living adjustments with each code section: IRS Notice 2025-67 (PDF).