2026 Retirement Contribution Limits: 401(k), IRA, HSA & 5-Year History
📑 In this guide
Every year the IRS inflation-adjusts the amount you can put into tax-advantaged retirement accounts, and 2026 saw across-the-board increases: 401(k)s to $24,500, IRAs to $7,500, and HSAs to $4,400/$8,750. There is also a significant rule change for high earners’ catch-up contributions. Here is everything you need to know.
2026 contribution limits
| Account | 2025 limit | 2026 limit | Catch-up (50+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k) / 403(b) / 457 | $23,500 | $24,500 | $8,000 (was $7,500) |
| 401(k) ages 60–63 | $11,250 | $11,250 (unchanged) | — |
| SIMPLE IRA / 401(k) | $16,500 | $17,000 | $4,000 |
| Traditional / Roth IRA | $7,000 | $7,500 | $1,100 (was $1,000) |
| HSA (self-only) | $4,300 | $4,400 | $1,000 (55+) |
| HSA (family) | $8,550 | $8,750 | $1,000 (55+) |
5-year history of the 401(k) limit
| Year | 401(k) limit | Catch-up 50+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $20,500 | $6,500 |
| 2023 | $22,500 | $7,500 |
| 2024 | $23,000 | $7,500 |
| 2025 | $23,500 | $7,500 |
| 2026 | $24,500 | $8,000 |
The limit has risen about 20% in five years — roughly tracking cumulative inflation, which is exactly what the law intends.
Big change: catch-up contributions must be Roth in 2026
Under SECURE 2.0, beginning in 2026, catch-up contributions to employer plans must be made on an after-tax (Roth) basis if the employee’s wages exceed $150,000 in the prior year. This is a tax-planning shift: high earners no longer get a pre-tax deduction on their catch-up dollars. Lower earners (under $150,000) can still make catch-ups pre-tax.
Roth IRA phase-out ranges (2026)
| Filing status | Roth phase-out (MAGI) |
|---|---|
| Single / head of household | $153,000 – $168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 – $252,000 |
| Married filing separately | $0 – $10,000 |
Traditional IRA deductibility (2026, if covered by a workplace plan)
| Filing status | Phase-out (MAGI) |
|---|---|
| Single / head of household | $81,000 – $91,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $129,000 – $149,000 |
| Spouse not covered by plan | $242,000 – $252,000 |
The HSA triple tax advantage
HSAs are the most tax-efficient account available: contributions are pre-tax, growth is tax-free, and qualified medical withdrawals are tax-free. They also reduce FICA tax when made through payroll — the one common exception to FICA’s flatness. 2026’s limits are $4,400 self-only / $8,750 family, requiring HDHP enrollment (minimum deductible $1,700 / $3,400; max out-of-pocket $8,500 / $17,000).
Project your own retirement
Use the free retirement savings projector above to see how current balance + monthly contribution + compound growth turn into a projected balance, and what it supports under the 4% rule. When you get closer to 73, check the RMD estimator to plan mandatory withdrawals.
Educational reference. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026. Figures from IRS retirement plan contribution limit announcements and IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.