2026 retirement plan limits: 401(k) deferral rises to $24,500

What changed The IRS announced the 2026 cost-of-living adjustments for retirement plans: - Employee elective deferral (401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b), TSP): $24,500, up from $23,500 - Age 50+ catch-up: $8,000, up from $7,500 - Age 60-63 super catch-up: $11,250 - IRA contribution limit: $7,500 What HR needs to do - Push the new limits into payroll and the recordkeeper before the first pay run of the year, and re-check annual maximum hard stops. - Update open enrollment and new hire materials, deferral election forms and intranet content that quote last year's numbers. - Remind highly paid participants about the interaction with the mandatory Roth catch-up rule now in effect. - Revisit your match true-up logic if participants front-load deferrals against the new higher ceiling.