The IRS has not announced the 2027 401(k) or IRA contribution limits yet. As of October 30, 2026, the official limits are still the 2026 ones: $24,500 for a 401(k) and $7,500 for an IRA. Last year the IRS published the next year's limits on November 13, so the 2027 numbers will probably come in November.
Key takeaways
- Official 2026 limits: $24,500 for a 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and the Thrift Savings Plan, and $7,500 for an IRA.
- Catch-up contributions for age 50 and up are $8,000 in a workplace plan and $1,100 in an IRA. Ages 60 to 63 can add $11,250 to a workplace plan.
- The IRS has not published 2027 limits. Any 2027 number you see online today is a forecast, not an official figure.
- If you earned more than $150,000 in Social Security wages in 2025, your 2026 catch-up contributions to a workplace plan must go in as Roth.
- Last year the IRS announced the new limits on November 13, 2025, so plan on checking again in mid-November.
Every fall, people start searching for next year’s 401(k) and IRA limits so they can set their contributions for January. This year there is one catch: the IRS has not published the 2027 numbers yet.
So here is what you can count on today, what to do with it, and when the new numbers should show up.
What are the 401(k) and IRA limits right now?
The IRS’s cost-of-living adjustments page currently shows 2026 as the latest year, with no 2027 figures. The 2026 limits come from the IRS news release of November 13, 2025 and Notice 2025-67:
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, Thrift Savings Plan | $23,500 | $24,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and up (workplace plan) | $7,500 | $8,000 |
| Catch-up, ages 60 to 63 (workplace plan) | $11,250 | $11,250 |
| IRA (traditional and Roth combined) | $7,000 | $7,500 |
| IRA catch-up, age 50 and up | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| SIMPLE IRA | $16,500 | $17,000 |
| Total limit on employee plus employer money (401(k)) | $70,000 | $72,000 |
A catch-up contribution is extra money that older savers are allowed to add on top of the regular limit.
When will the 2027 limits be announced?
The IRS has not said. Last year’s release came on November 13, 2025, so mid-November is a good time to look again. We will cover the new numbers when they are official.
You may see articles with 2027 “estimates.” Those are forecasts from outside firms. They are not IRS numbers, and they can be off by hundreds of dollars. Do not set your payroll deduction to a forecast.
How much is that per paycheck?
Here is a simple illustration of what it takes to reach the 2026 limit of $24,500 if you are paid every two weeks, which is 26 paychecks a year:
- $24,500 ÷ 26 paychecks = $942.31 per paycheck.
- If you are paid twice a month (24 paychecks): $24,500 ÷ 24 = $1,020.83 per paycheck.
- If you are paid monthly: $24,500 ÷ 12 = $2,041.67 per month.
If you are behind, the math changes. Say you have 2 biweekly paychecks left in 2026 and you want to hit the limit. You would need to divide what remains by 2, not 26. Your payroll department can tell you what you have put in so far.
What if I am 50 or older?
You can add the catch-up on top of the regular limit. For 2026 that is:
- Age 50 to 59, or 64 and up: $24,500 + $8,000 = $32,500 in a workplace plan.
- Ages 60, 61, 62 or 63: $24,500 + $11,250 = $35,750.
- IRA, age 50 and up: $7,500 + $1,100 = $8,600.
Your plan has to offer catch-up contributions, and not every plan does. Check with your plan administrator.
Do high earners have to make Roth catch-up contributions?
Starting in 2026, yes, for some people. Notice 2025-67 sets the Roth catch-up wage threshold at $150,000. If your Social Security wages from the employer in 2025 were above that, your 2026 catch-up contributions to a workplace plan must be Roth. A Roth contribution is made with money you have already paid tax on, so it does not lower your tax bill this year, but qualified withdrawals later are tax-free.
Illustration: if you are in the 24% tax bracket and make a $1,000 traditional (pre-tax) catch-up contribution, you save about $1,000 × 0.24 = $240 in tax this year. If it has to be Roth, you do not get that $240 now.
What to do now
- Check your year-to-date total. Look at your latest pay stub or your plan’s website to see what you have put in for 2026.
- Find your per-paycheck number. Use the math above, or run it in the 401(k) calculator.
- Raise your contribution before December if you can. Changes usually take a pay period or two to show up, so ask payroll soon.
- Do not forget the employer match. If your employer matches part of what you put in, make sure you are putting in enough to get all of it.
- Check the IRS newsroom in mid-November for the 2027 limits, then adjust your January contribution.
- Plan the long run. The retirement calculator shows what extra savings can grow into, and the Roth IRA calculator helps with the IRA side. For the full 2026 rules, see our 401(k) and IRA limits page.
This is general information, not personal tax advice. Your plan’s rules and your own situation can change what you are allowed to do.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2027?
It has not been announced. The IRS adjusts the limit each year and usually publishes the new number in the fall. For 2026 it is $24,500, up from $23,500 in 2025. Until the IRS releases its 2027 notice, treat any 2027 figure you read as a guess. This page will not be the official source, so check IRS.gov when the news release comes out.
When will the IRS announce the 2027 retirement plan limits?
The IRS has not given a date. Last year it published the 2026 limits in a news release on November 13, 2025, and the formal notice came with it. This year's timing could differ, but mid-November is a reasonable time to check again. The IRS posts the numbers on its newsroom and on its cost-of-living adjustments page.
What is the IRA contribution limit right now?
For 2026 you can put in up to $7,500 across all of your traditional and Roth IRAs combined. If you are 50 or older, you can add a $1,100 catch-up, for a total of $8,600. The limit is also capped by your taxable compensation for the year, so you cannot contribute more than you earned.
How much can I contribute to a 401(k) if I am 50 or older?
In 2026 the regular limit is $24,500, and people 50 or older can add an $8,000 catch-up, for $32,500 in total. If you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 during 2026, the catch-up is $11,250 instead, which makes the total $35,750. Your plan has to allow catch-up contributions, so ask your plan administrator.
Do I have to make my catch-up contributions Roth?
Only if your Social Security wages from the employer sponsoring the plan were more than $150,000 in 2025. In that case, your 2026 catch-up contributions to a 401(k), 403(b) or governmental 457 plan must be Roth, which means you pay the tax now and not when you withdraw. Below that level, you can choose traditional or Roth if your plan offers both.