Inflation-adjusted limits back to 1996 available

[Carol V. Calhoun]

I have now retired, and will no longer be updating my site.  So for all of you who have been relying on my maximum benefits and contributions page for historical limits, it is unlikely I will be updating it and I may take it down at some point.  However, I do have the database with all the limits back to 1996.  If anyone wants it so that they can develop their own page, let me know.

[Bill Presson]

Ms Carol, I don’t blame you but this makes me very sad. That page has been saved as a shortcut on my iPhone for years. I’ve referenced it countless times.

Many, many thanks for doing this and saving me a small amount of brain space to use on other issues. 
 

I hope retirement is wonderful and lasts a very long time. 

[Dave Baker]

Hi Carol --

We'd love to have the database and create a page on BenefitsLink, with credit to you. Let me know how I can get it and make it easy for you.

What is this retirement thing of which you speak? I thought it was only mythology 🙂

CONGRATULATIONS!

[Bill Presson]

12 minutes ago, Dave Baker said:

Hi Carol --

We'd love to have the database and create a page on BenefitsLink, with credit to you. Let me know how I can get it and make it easy for you.

What is this retirement thing of which you speak? I thought it was only mythology 🙂

CONGRATULATIONS!

Well, this would be a wonderful thing!

[Carol V. Calhoun]

1 hour ago, Dave Baker said:

Hi Carol --

We'd love to have the database and create a page on BenefitsLink, with credit to you. Let me know how I can get it and make it easy for you.

What is this retirement thing of which you speak? I thought it was only mythology 🙂

CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you!  And I'd love to have BenefitsLink take over that page.  I've e-mailed you with information.

14 hours ago, Bill Presson said:

Ms Carol, I don’t blame you but this makes me very sad. That page has been saved as a shortcut on my iPhone for years. I’ve referenced it countless times.

Many, many thanks for doing this and saving me a small amount of brain space to use on other issues. 
 

I hope retirement is wonderful and lasts a very long time. 

Thanks, Bill!  This is definitely bittersweet for me.  I've been practicing employee benefits law for 46 years now, and maintaining my site for 28, and it's hard to walk away from all that.  But I am 72, and it's time for a new chapter in my life.  I've been accepted as a volunteer EMT trainee with a local fire department. That will be about a year of classes, practical training, and helping out the EMTs, after which I'll be certified as an EMT myself.  Some questions have been raised as to whether I actually understand the meaning of "retire," which I hear is supposed to mean relaxing and playing golf or something.  But I'm excited about the new challenges.

[CuseFan]

Congrats! Enjoy those new challenges - I think it is important to retire TO something rather than FROM something. Good luck!

[Carol V. Calhoun]

1 hour ago, CuseFan said:

Congrats! Enjoy those new challenges - I think it is important to retire TO something rather than FROM something. Good luck!

Thanks!  And you're right--a big reason I waited this long to retire was that I didn't want to do so until I had something satisfying to do on the other side.

[Bri]

Happy retirement!  I know I have a printoff of yours at least 20 years and four jobs ago detailing which Code sections don't apply to government plans, it's been a fantastic resource to have!

[Liz Hallam]

Very best wishes Carol and good luck with your new "venture" which is like now giving back.

You've joined Fred Reish's list of now 4 people who truly retired. Sal Tripodi, Sheldon Smith and (last but not least) Karen Jordan.

Again have a wonderful life and thank you.

[PensionPete]

Carol, I have made use of your list many a times over the years.  Thanks so much.  Great that BL will be taking it over.  Good luck in your ACTIVE retirement!

[Bill Presson]

7 hours ago, Carol V. Calhoun said:

Thank you!  And I'd love to have BenefitsLink take over that page.  I've e-mailed you with information.

Thanks, Bill!  This is definitely bittersweet for me.  I've been practicing employee benefits law for 46 years now, and maintaining my site for 28, and it's hard to walk away from all that.  But I am 72, and it's time for a new chapter in my life.  I've been accepted as a volunteer EMT trainee with a local fire department. That will be about a year of classes, practical training, and helping out the EMTs, after which I'll be certified as an EMT myself.  Some questions have been raised as to whether I actually understand the meaning of "retire," which I hear is supposed to mean relaxing and playing golf or something.  But I'm excited about the new challenges.

BTW, my wife just said you becoming a volunteer EMT at retirement age is one of the coolest things she’s ever heard. 

[david rigby]

Carol, thanks for all your contributions, on your webpage and on these Message Boards, as well as your standards of excellence. 

You will enjoy retirement!

[ESOP Guy]

Congrats on retirement. 

I would assume most people on a forum like this know about this IRS table with all the limits going back 1989.  

 

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/cola-table.pdf

[Dave Baker]

Ta-da, now on BenefitsLink (with Carol's consent):

Inflation-Adjusted Limits on Retirement Plans, Including Maximum Benefits and Contributions (1996-Present)

[Dave Baker]

On 2/27/2026 at 3:45 PM, Bri said:

Happy retirement!  I know I have a printoff of yours at least 20 years and four jobs ago detailing which Code sections don't apply to government plans, it's been a fantastic resource to have!

@Bri This one?

https://benefitsattorney.com/charts/appfa/

[Dave Baker]

On 2/26/2026 at 9:10 PM, Bill Presson said:

That page has been saved as a shortcut on my iPhone for years. I’ve referenced it countless times.

@Bill Presson Bill, how does this new page work for you on your iPhone?

https://benefitslink.com/limits.html

[Bri]

42 minutes ago, Dave Baker said:

@Bri This one?

https://benefitsattorney.com/charts/appfa/

That's a more recent version, but yup!

[Bill Presson]

1 hour ago, Dave Baker said:

@Bill Presson Bill, how does this new page work for you on your iPhone?

https://benefitslink.com/limits.html

Dave,

It works fine and I’ll update my icon/link. I did really like the button she had at the top to choose how many years or what years to show. But this will still be a time saver. I really appreciate y’all taking it on and Ms @Carol V. Calhoun for being gracious enough to allow it. 

[Bill Presson]

Link updated and happy to have it still. 
 

I liked the acknowledgment of Ms Carol’s contributions on the page. Well done Bakers!

[Carol V. Calhoun]

On 3/2/2026 at 5:14 PM, ESOP Guy said:

Congrats on retirement. 

I would assume most people on a forum like this know about this IRS table with all the limits going back 1989.  

 

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/cola-table.pdf

Oh, absolutely!  This one just has some extra stuff like links to each of the IRS and Social Security authorities for each year, and cautionary notes about the fact that 403(b) plans have more than one catch-up.  But the IRS one works, too.