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

Type of Limitation 2026 [1] 2025 [2] 2024 [3] 2023 [4] 2022 [5] 2021 [6] 2020 [7] 2019 [8] 2018 [9] 2017 [10] 2016 [11] 2015 [12] 2014 [13] 2013 [14] 2012 [15] 2011 [16] 2010 [17] 2009 [18] 2008 [19] 2007 [20] 2006 [21] 2005 [22] 2004 [23] 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
Elective Deferrals (401(k) and 403(b); not including adjustments and catch-ups) $24,500 $23,500 $23,000 $22,500 $20,500 $19,500 $19,500 $19,000 $18,500 $18,000 $18,000 $18,000 $17,500 $17,500 $17,000 $16,500 $16,500 $16,500 $15,500 $15,500 $15,000 $14,000 $13,000 $12,000 $11,000 $10,500 $10,500 $10,000 $10,000 $9,500 $9,500
457(b)(2) and 457(c)(1) Limits (not including catch-ups) $24,500 $23,500 $23,000 $22,500 $20,500 $19,500 $19,500 $19,000 $18,500 $18,000 $18,000 $18,000 $17,500 $17,500 $17,000 $16,500 $16,500 $16,500 $15,500 $15,500 $15,000 $14,000 $13,000 $12,000 $11,000 $8,500 $8,000 $8,000 $8,000 $7,500 NA
Section 414(v) Catch-Up Deferrals to 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), or SARSEP Plans for Individuals Over Age 50 [24] $8,000 $7,500 $7,500 $7,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $4,000 $3,000 $2,000 $1,000 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Section 414(v) Catch-Up Deferrals to 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), or SARSEP Plans for Individuals Ages 60-63 [25] $11,250 $11,250 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Social Security wages requiring Roth to be used for catch-up [26] $150,000 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Defined Benefit Plans $290,000 $280,000 $275,000 $265,000 $245,000 $230,000 $230,000 $225,000 $220,000 $215,000 $210,000 $210,000 $210,000 $205,000 $200,000 $195,000 $195,000 $195,000 $185,000 $180,000 $175,000 $170,000 $165,000 $160,000 $160,000 $140,000 $135,000 $130,000 $130,000 $125,000 $120,000
Defined Contribution Plans (annual additions limit) $72,000 $70,000 $69,000 $66,000 $61,000 $58,000 $57,000 $56,000 $55,000 $54,000 $53,000 $53,000 $52,000 $51,000 $50,000 $49,000 $49,000 $49,000 $46,000 $45,000 $44,000 $42,000 $41,000 $40,000 $40,000 $35,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000
Annual Compensation Limit $360,000 $350,000 $345,000 $330,000 $305,000 $290,000 $285,000 $280,000 $275,000 $270,000 $265,000 $265,000 $260,000 $255,000 $250,000 $245,000 $245,000 $245,000 $230,000 $225,000 $220,000 $210,000 $205,000 $200,000 $200,000 $170,000 $170,000 $160,000 $160,000 $160,000 $150,000
Annual Compensation Limit for Grandfathered Participants in Governmental Plans Which Followed 401(a)(17) Limits (With Indexing) on July 1, 1993 $535,000 $520,000 $505,000 $490,000 $450,000 $430,000 $425,000 $415,000 $405,000 $400,000 $395,000 $395,000 $385,000 $380,000 $375,000 $360,000 $360,000 $360,000 $345,000 $335,000 $325,000 $315,000 $305,000 $300,000 $295,000 $285,000 $275,000 $270,000 $265,000 NA NA
Highly Compensated Employee (“HCEs”) $160,000 $160,000 $155,000 $150,000 $135,000 $130,000 $130,000 $125,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000 $115,000 $115,000 $115,000 $110,000 $110,000 $110,000 $105,000 $100,000 $100,000 $95,000 $90,000 $90,000 $90,000 $85,000 $85,000 $80,000 $80,000 $80,000 NA
Key Employee/Officer $235,000 $230,000 $220,000 $215,000 $200,000 $185,000 $185,000 $180,000 $175,000 $175,000 $170,000 $170,000 $170,000 $165,000 $165,000 $155,000 $155,000 $160,000 $150,000 $145,000 $140,000 $135,000 $130,000 $130,000 $130,000 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), for individuals 49 and below $7,500 $7,000 $7,000 $6,500 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000
Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), for individuals 50 and above $8,600 $8,000 $8,000 $7,500 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $5,000 $5,000 $4,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000
SIMPLE Retirement Accounts $17,000 $16,500 $16,000 $15,500 $14,000 $13,500 $13,500 $13,000 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,500 $12,000 $12,000 $11,500 $11,500 $11,500 $11,500 $10,500 $10,500 $10,000 $10,000 $9,000 $8,000 $7,000 $6,500 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 NA
SEP Coverage $800 $750 $750 $750 $650 $650 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $600 $550 $550 $550 $550 $550 $550 $500 $500 $450 $450 $450 $450 $450 $450 $450 $400 $400 $400 $400
SEP Compensation $360,000 $350,000 $345,000 $330,000 $305,000 $290,000 $285,000 $280,000 $275,000 $270,000 $265,000 $265,000 $260,000 $255,000 $250,000 $245,000 $245,000 $245,000 $230,000 $225,000 $220,000 $210,000 $205,000 $200,000 $200,000 $170,000 $170,000 $160,000 $160,000 $160,000 $150,000
Tax Credit ESOP Maximum Balance $1,455,000 $1,415,000 $1,380,000 $1,330,000 $1,230,000 $1,165,000 $1,150,000 $1,130,000 $1,105,000 $1,080,000 $1,070,000 $1,070,000 $1,050,000 $1,035,000 $1,015,000 $985,000 $985,000 $985,000 $935,000 $915,000 $850,000 $850,000 $830,000 $810,000 $800,000 $780,000 $755,000 $735,000 $725,000 $710,000 $690,000
Amount for Lengthening of 5-Year ESOP Period $290,000 $280,000 $275,000 $265,000 $245,000 $230,000 $230,000 $225,000 $220,000 $215,000 $210,000 $210,000 $210,000 $205,000 $200,000 $195,000 $195,000 $195,000 $185,000 $180,000 $175,000 $170,000 $165,000 $160,000 $160,000 $155,000 $150,000 $145,000 $145,000 $140,000 $135,000
Maximum Amount for Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract Purchases $210,000 $210,000 $200,000 $155,000 $145,000 $135,000 $135,000 $130,000 $130,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Excess Distribution Threshold NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA $160,000 $155,000
Qualified Police and Firefighters’ DB Benefit Limit NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA $70,000 NA
Income Subject to Social Security Tax $184,500 $176,100 $168,600 $160,200 $147,000 $142,800 $137,700 $132,900 $128,400 $127,200 $118,500 $118,500 $117,000 $113,700 $110,100 $106,800 $106,800 $106,800 $102,000 $97,500 $94,200 $90,000 $87,900 $87,000 $84,900 $80,400 $76,200 $72,600 $68,400 $65,400 $62,700
FICA Tax for employers 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65%
FICA Tax for employees 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 5.65% 5.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65%
Social Security Tax for employers 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20%
Social Security Tax for employees 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 4.20% 4.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20%
Medicare Tax for employees and employers [27] 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45%
SECA Tax for self-employed workers 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 13.30% 13.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30%
Social Security Tax for self-employed workers 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 10.40% 10.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40%
Medicare Tax for self-employed workers 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90%

Footnotes:

1. 2026 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2025-67 (Nov. 13, 2025) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 24, 2025).
2. 2025 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2024-80, 2024-47 I.R.B. 1120 (Nov. 18, 2024) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 10, 2024).
3. 2024 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2023-75, 2023-47 I.R.B. 1256 (Nov. 20, 2023) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 12, 2023).
4. 2023 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2022-55, 2022–45 I.R.B. 443 (Nov. 7, 2022) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 13, 2022).
5. 2022 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2021-61, 2021–47 I.R.B. 738 (Nov. 22, 2021) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 13, 2021).
6. 2021 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2020-79, 2020–46 I.R.B. 1014 (Nov. 9, 2020) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 13, 2020).
7. 2020 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2019-59, 2019-47 I.R.B. 1091 (Nov. 18, 2019) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 10, 2019).
8. 2019 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2018-83, 2018-47 I.R.B. 774 (Nov. 19, 2018) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 11, 2018).
9. 2018 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2017-64, 2017-45 I.R.B. 486 (Nov. 6, 2017) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 13, 2017), as modified by Updated 2018 Taxable Maximum Amount Announced (Nov. 27, 2017).
10. 2017 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2016-62, 2016-46 I.R.B. 725 (Nov. 14, 2016) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 18, 2016).
11. 2016 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2015-75, 2015-46 I.R.B. 668 (Nov. 16, 2015) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 15, 2015).
12. 2015 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2014-70, 2014-48 I.R.B. 905 (Nov. 24, 2014) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 22, 2014).
13. 2014 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2013-73, 2013-49 I.R.B. 598 (Dec. 2, 2013) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 30, 2013).
14. 2013 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2012-67, 2012-50 I.R.B. 671 (Dec. 10, 2012) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 16, 2012).
15. 2012 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2011-90, 2011-47 I.R.B. 791 (Nov. 21, 2011) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 19, 2011).
16. 2011 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2010-78, 2010-49 I.R.B. 808 (Dec. 6, 2010) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 15, 2010).
17. 2010 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2009-94, 2009-50 I.R.B. 848 (Dec. 14, 2009) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 15, 2009).
18. 2009 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2008-102, 2008-45 I.R.B. 1107 (Nov. 10, 2008) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 16, 2008).
19. 2008 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2007-87, 2007-45 I.R.B. 966 (Nov. 5, 2007) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 17, 2007).
20. 2007 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2006-98, 2006-46 I.R.B. 906 (Nov. 13, 2006) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 18, 2006).
21. 2006 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2005-75, 2005-45 I.R.B. 929 (Nov. 7, 2005) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 14, 2005).
22. 2005 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2004-72, 2004-46 I.R.B. 840 (Nov. 15, 2004) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 19, 2004).
23. 2004 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2003-73, 2003-45 I.R.B. 1017 (Nov. 10, 2003) and Social Security Administration Press Release (Oct. 16, 2003).
24. This number is only the catch-up available under Code section 414(v). Code sections 457(b)(3) and 402(g) provide separate catch-up rules, which also must be considered in appropriate cases.
25. This additional catch-up became effective in 2025.
26. The requirement that catch-ups be made as Roth, when Social Security wages are above a certain limit, became effective in 2026.
27. Beginning in 2013, a 0.9 percent Additional Medicare Tax applies to an individual’s wages, Railroad Retirement Tax Act compensation, and self-employment income that exceeds a threshold amount based on the individual’s filing status. The threshold amounts are $250,000 for married taxpayers who file jointly, $125,000 for married taxpayers who file separately, and $200,000 for all other taxpayers. An employer is responsible for withholding the Additional Medicare Tax from wages or compensation it pays to an employee in excess of $200,000 in a calendar year.

Editor's note: BenefitsLink gratefully acknowledges the work that was put into the creation and maintenance of this chart (1996 through 2026) by Carol V. Calhoun, a prominent employee benefits attorney who is now retired from the practice of law. Ms. Calhoun was a pioneer in the use of the internet to convey information to practitioners, to whom the industry and especially this website are indebted.