401(k) Contribution Limits for 2027: $25,500, Plus Catch-Up and IRA Limits

Short answer: The 401(k) contribution limit for 2027 is $25,500, up $1,000 from 2026, according to the IRS. Savers 50 and older can add an $8,500 catch-up, for a total of $34,000, and people who turn 60 through 63 in 2027 get a larger $11,750 catch-up. The IRA limit stays at $7,500, with a $1,100 catch-up for people 50 and older.

What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2027?

The IRS announced the 2027 figures on November 12, 2026, in news release IR-2026-136, with the technical details in Notice 2026-66. The employee deferral limit, which is the most you can contribute from your paycheck, rises to $25,500 from $24,500. The same limit applies to:

• 401(k) plans
• 403(b) plans
• Governmental 457 plans
• The federal Thrift Savings Plan

Here's how the main 2027 numbers compare with 2026:

Limit	2026	2027
401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 and TSP deferrals	$24,500	$25,500
Catch-up, age 50 and older	$8,000	$8,500
Higher catch-up, ages 60 to 63	$11,250	$11,750
IRA contribution limit	$7,500	$7,500
IRA catch-up, age 50 and older	$1,100	$1,100
SIMPLE plan deferrals (general limit)	$17,000	$17,500
Overall defined contribution limit (section 415(c))	$72,000	$75,000

The figures in this table come from IRS Notice 2026-66, which lists each 2027 amount next to the 2026 amount it replaces.

How Much Can You Put in a 401(k) If You're 50 or Older?

If you're 50 or older, you can contribute more than the standard limit through catch-up contributions. For 2027:

Your age in 2027	Catch-up	Total you can defer
Under 50	None	$25,500
50 to 59, or 64 and older	$8,500	$34,000
Turning 60, 61, 62 or 63	$11,750	$37,250

The IRS says the higher catch-up applies to people who attain age 60, 61, 62 or 63 during 2027, and it replaces the regular $8,500 catch-up for that group rather than adding to it.

Do Higher Earners Have to Make Roth Catch-Ups?

Yes, if their wages pass a threshold. Under section 414(v)(7) of the tax code, catch-up contributions for some higher earners must be made as Roth (after-tax) contributions. Notice 2026-66 raises the wage threshold used for this rule from $150,000 to $155,000. The threshold is applied to your 2026 wages to decide whether your 2027 catch-ups must be Roth. Your plan administrator can tell you how your plan handles it.

What Are the IRA Contribution Limits for 2027?

The IRA limit stays at $7,500 for 2027. The catch-up for people 50 and older also stays at $1,100, for a total of $8,600. The IRS points out that the IRA catch-up now gets an annual cost-of-living adjustment under the SECURE 2.0 Act, even though it didn't change this year.

What Are the Roth IRA Income Limits for 2027?

Your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA phases out as your modified adjusted gross income rises. For 2027:

Filing status	2026 phase-out range	2027 phase-out range
Single or head of household	$153,000 to $168,000	$158,000 to $173,000
Married filing jointly	$242,000 to $252,000	$250,000 to $260,000
Married filing separately	$0 to $10,000	$0 to $10,000

If you're saving for both retirement and a child's education, our comparison of a 529 plan vs. a Roth IRA explains how the two accounts differ.

Can You Deduct Traditional IRA Contributions in 2027?

If you or your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the deduction for traditional IRA contributions phases out within these 2027 income ranges:

• Single or head of household, covered by a workplace plan: $83,000 to $93,000 (up from $81,000 to $91,000)
• Married filing jointly, contributing spouse covered: $133,000 to $153,000 (up from $129,000 to $149,000)
• Not covered, but married to someone who is: $250,000 to $260,000 (up from $242,000 to $252,000)
• Married filing separately, covered by a workplace plan: $0 to $10,000 (unchanged)

What Are the Other 2027 Retirement Plan Limits?

Notice 2026-66 also updates several limits that matter more to plan sponsors and higher earners:

• Overall defined contribution limit (section 415(c)): $75,000, up from $72,000
• Annual compensation limit (section 401(a)(17)): $375,000, up from $360,000
• Highly compensated employee threshold: $170,000, up from $160,000
• SIMPLE plans: the general deferral limit rises to $17,500, and the higher limit for certain SIMPLE plans under SECURE 2.0 rises to $19,100. The SIMPLE catch-up for people 50 and older stays at $4,000, and the catch-up for ages 60 to 63 stays at $5,250.

What Happens to the Saver's Credit in 2027?

The Saver's Credit is a tax credit for eligible people who contribute to retirement savings, with income limits. A footnote in Notice 2026-66 says that after 2026, the Saver's Match replaces the Saver's Credit for elective contributions to retirement plans and IRAs. The Saver's Credit still applies to contributions to ABLE accounts. For those ABLE contributions, the 2027 income limits are:

• Married filing jointly: $83,000 (up from $80,500)
• Head of household: $62,250 (up from $60,375)
• All other filers: $41,500 (up from $40,250)

How Can You Plan Around the 2027 Limits?

The limits are maximums, not targets. A few practical steps:

1. Update your payroll election. If you aim to max out, divide $25,500 (or $34,000 or $37,250 with catch-ups) by the number of paychecks you'll get in 2027.
2. Check your birthday year. If you're 50 or older, or turn 60 through 63, during 2027, a higher catch-up amount applies to you. Ask your plan administrator how to change your election.
3. Decide how much to contribute. Our guide to how much to contribute to your 401(k) walks through the trade-offs.
4. Confirm your Roth IRA eligibility. If your income is near the new phase-out range, check before you contribute.
5. Compare with this year. Our guide to 2026 401(k) and IRA limits has the tax year 2026 figures.

To see what a bigger contribution could grow to, try our retirement savings calculator. For a sense of where you stand, see how much you should have in your 401(k) by age.

The Bottom Line

For 2027, you can defer up to $25,500 into a 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plan or the TSP, with an $8,500 catch-up at 50 and an $11,750 catch-up if you turn 60 through 63 during the year. The IRA limit holds at $7,500. Because plan features and tax situations vary, consider confirming the details with your plan administrator or a tax professional. For more, explore our retirement guides, including 401(k) vs. 403(b) and our guide to the rule of 55.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2027?

The IRS set the 2027 elective deferral limit at $25,500, up from $24,500 for 2026. The same limit applies to 403(b) plans, governmental 457 plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan.

What is the 401(k) catch-up limit for 2027?

For 2027, the catch-up contribution for people 50 and older is $8,500, up from $8,000, so they can defer up to $34,000. People who turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 in 2027 have a higher catch-up limit of $11,750.

Did the IRA contribution limit go up for 2027?

No. The IRA contribution limit stays at $7,500 for 2027, and the catch-up for people 50 and older stays at $1,100. The IRS notes that the IRA catch-up now has an annual cost-of-living adjustment under the SECURE 2.0 Act, but it did not change for 2027.

What are the Roth IRA income limits for 2027?

The 2027 phase-out range is $158,000 to $173,000 for single and head-of-household filers, $250,000 to $260,000 for married couples filing jointly, and $0 to $10,000 for married people filing separately.

Which year do the new limits apply to?

The IRS figures apply to tax year 2027. For tax year 2026, the 2026 limits apply, including the $24,500 401(k) limit.

Sources

1. IRS: 401(k) limit increases to $25,500 for 2027, IRA limit remains $7,500 (IR-2026-136)
2. IRS Notice 2026-66: 2027 Amounts Relating to Retirement Plans and IRAs

This guide is general information, not personal advice. Your situation may differ, so consider talking with a qualified professional, such as a fiduciary financial adviser, CPA or licensed agent, before making a decision.