The 2027 401(k) contribution limit is $25,500, up $1,000 from $24,500 in 2026, and the IRA limit stays at $7,500. The IRS announced both on November 12, 2026. If you are 50 or older, you can add $8,500 to a workplace plan, and ages 60 to 63 can add $11,750. The IRA catch-up stays at $1,100.
Key takeaways
- The 2027 limit for a 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and the Thrift Savings Plan is $25,500, up from $24,500 in 2026.
- The IRA limit stays at $7,500 for 2027, and the IRA catch-up for people 50 and older stays at $1,100.
- Catch-up contributions rise to $8,500 at age 50 and up, and to $11,750 for people who turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 in 2027.
- The Roth catch-up wage threshold rises to $155,000: if your 2026 Social Security wages from your employer were above that, your 2027 catch-up must be Roth.
- The total limit on employee plus employer money in a defined contribution plan rises to $75,000 in 2027, from $72,000.
On November 12, 2026, the IRS announced next year’s retirement savings limits. The big one: you will be able to put $1,000 more into your 401(k) in 2027. The IRA limit did not move.
Here is what changed, who gets a bigger catch-up, and what to do before January.
What are the 2027 401(k) and IRA limits?
The numbers come from the IRS news release and Notice 2026-66:
| 2026 | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, Thrift Savings Plan | $24,500 | $25,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and up (workplace plan) | $8,000 | $8,500 |
| Catch-up, ages 60 to 63 (workplace plan) | $11,250 | $11,750 |
| IRA (traditional and Roth combined) | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| IRA catch-up, age 50 and up | $1,100 | $1,100 |
| SIMPLE IRA (most employers) | $17,000 | $17,500 |
| Employee plus employer total (defined contribution plan) | $72,000 | $75,000 |
A catch-up contribution is extra money that older savers are allowed to add on top of the regular limit.
How much is that per paycheck?
Here is a simple illustration of what it takes to reach the 2027 limit of $25,500:
- Paid every two weeks (26 paychecks): $25,500 ÷ 26 = $980.77 per paycheck.
- Paid twice a month (24 paychecks): $25,500 ÷ 24 = $1,062.50 per paycheck.
- Paid monthly: $25,500 ÷ 12 = $2,125.00 per month.
If you already hit the 2026 limit with $24,500 ÷ 26 = $942.31 per biweekly paycheck, the 2027 limit needs about $38.46 more per paycheck ($980.77 − $942.31).
What if I am 50 or older?
You can add the catch-up on top of the regular limit. For 2027 that is:
- Age 50 to 59, or 64 and up: $25,500 + $8,500 = $34,000.
- Turning 60, 61, 62 or 63 in 2027: $25,500 + $11,750 = $37,250.
- IRA, age 50 and up: $7,500 + $1,100 = $8,600.
Your plan has to offer catch-up contributions, and not every plan does.
Will my catch-up have to be Roth?
Maybe. The IRS raised the Roth catch-up wage threshold from $150,000 to $155,000. If your Social Security wages from your employer were above $155,000 in 2026, your 2027 catch-up contributions to a workplace plan must be Roth. A Roth contribution uses 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% bracket and make an $8,500 pre-tax catch-up, you would save about $8,500 × 0.24 = $2,040 in tax. If it has to be Roth, you do not get that $2,040 now.
Did the IRA income limits change?
Yes, even though the contribution limit did not. These are the ranges where your Roth IRA contribution, or your traditional IRA deduction if you have a workplace plan, starts to shrink:
| Situation | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Roth IRA, single or head of household | $153,000–$168,000 | $158,000–$173,000 |
| Roth IRA, married filing jointly | $242,000–$252,000 | $250,000–$260,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction, single, covered by a workplace plan | $81,000–$91,000 | $83,000–$93,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction, married filing jointly, you are covered | $129,000–$149,000 | $133,000–$153,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction, you are not covered but your spouse is | $242,000–$252,000 | $250,000–$260,000 |
The Saver’s Credit income limits also rose. For 2027 they are $83,000 for married couples filing jointly, $62,250 for heads of household and $41,500 for everyone else. The credit is for lower-income savers.
What to do now
- Finish 2026 first. The 2026 limits ($24,500 for a 401(k)) still apply until December 31. Check your year-to-date total on a pay stub.
- Set your 2027 amount. Use the per-paycheck math above or the 401(k) calculator.
- Ask payroll to change it before January. Many employers need a form or a website change that takes a pay period or two.
- Keep the match. If your employer matches part of what you put in, make sure your percentage still earns all of it after the raise.
- Check the catch-up rules if you are 50 or older. Ask whether your plan offers catch-up and whether the Roth rule applies to you.
- 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) limit for 2027?
It is $25,500 for 2027. That covers the money you put in from your own paycheck to a 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and the Thrift Savings Plan. It was $24,500 in 2026 and $23,500 in 2025. Employer matching money does not count toward this number, but it does count toward the larger $75,000 total limit.
What is the IRA contribution limit for 2027?
It stays at $7,500 for 2027, the same as 2026. That is the combined total for all of your traditional and Roth IRAs. If you are 50 or older, you can add a $1,100 catch-up, for $8,600. You also cannot put in more than your taxable compensation for the year.
How much can I contribute to a 401(k) at 50 or older in 2027?
In most plans, $25,500 plus an $8,500 catch-up, which is $34,000 in total. If you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 during 2027, the catch-up is $11,750 instead, so the total is $37,250. Your plan has to allow catch-up contributions, so ask your plan administrator whether it does.
Do I have to make Roth catch-up contributions in 2027?
Only if your Social Security wages from the employer that sponsors the plan were above $155,000 in 2026. In that case your 2027 catch-up contributions to a 401(k), 403(b) or governmental 457 plan must be Roth, meaning you pay the tax now. Below that wage level, you can choose pre-tax or Roth if your plan offers both.
When do the 2027 limits take effect?
They apply to contributions made for calendar year 2027, so they start with your first paycheck in January 2027. Until then, the 2026 limits still apply. If you want to max out your 2026 contributions, you have until your last paycheck of 2026, and the 2026 IRA limit can be met until the tax filing deadline in April 2027.