For 2026, is $39,500 an available elective deferral?

For a § 403(b) participant who’s 61, has 15 years of service with a qualified organization, and sufficiently little past contributions, is $39,500 [$24,000 + $12,000 (age-based catch-up) + $3,000 (I.R.C. § 402(g)(7))] her elective-deferral limit?

Assuming the plan allows, the projected limits for 2026 are what we think they will be, and the Plan has sufficient records to support, that looks correct.

Your $39,500 total looks accurate. but your formula lists 402(g) and $24,000 not $24,500.

I don't typically deal with 403(b) but I believe there are some ordering rules you have to follow when there are both catch-ups offered so assuming this hasn't come into play in a prior year I would agree but you do have some tracking going forward to make sure you don't mess up the lifetime limit on the second catch-up. At least as I understand it.

Thank you for helping me.

Yup, my too-quick typing missed $24,500 as the limit before adding catch-ups.

Using I.R.C. § 457(b)(3)(A), an individual may defer up to $49,000 under a § 457(b) plan.

That could result in combined retirement savings of $88,500.