As Americans wrap up their 2025 retirement contributions, the IRS has provided a roadmap for next year: higher limits across the board. The agency's November announcement raised contribution caps for 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement accounts, giving workers additional room to build their nest eggs in 2026.

The New Numbers

Here's what changes for the 2026 tax year:

401(k), 403(b), 457 Plans, and Thrift Savings Plan

  • Standard contribution limit: $24,500 (up from $23,500 in 2025)
  • Catch-up contribution (age 50+): $8,000 (up from $7,500)
  • Total for workers 50 and older: $32,500
  • Super catch-up (ages 60-63): $11,250 (per SECURE 2.0 Act)
  • Total for workers ages 60-63: $35,750

Traditional and Roth IRAs

  • Standard contribution limit: $7,500 (up from $7,000 in 2025)
  • Catch-up contribution (age 50+): $1,100
  • Total for savers 50 and older: $8,600

SIMPLE IRAs

  • Standard contribution: $17,000
  • Catch-up (age 50+): $4,000

The Roth Catch-Up Requirement

One significant change takes effect in 2026 that high earners need to plan for: if you earned more than $150,000 in 2025, your catch-up contributions must go into a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA rather than a traditional pre-tax account.

This provision, part of the SECURE 2.0 Act passed in 2022, was originally scheduled to take effect in 2024 but was delayed to give employers time to update their systems.

"This is a meaningful change for high earners who have been using catch-up contributions to reduce their current taxable income. They'll need to rerun the math on whether Roth or traditional contributions make more sense."

— Ed Slott, CPA and IRA expert

The switch to mandatory Roth catch-ups means high earners will pay tax on these contributions now but enjoy tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Whether this is advantageous depends on individual circumstances, including expected tax rates in retirement.

Roth IRA Income Limits

Roth IRA contribution eligibility is subject to income phase-outs that have also been updated for 2026:

  • Single/Head of Household: Phase-out begins at $153,000, complete at $168,000
  • Married Filing Jointly: Phase-out begins at $242,000, complete at $252,000

Those above these limits can still contribute to a traditional IRA and consider a "backdoor Roth" conversion strategy, though this approach has faced periodic legislative scrutiny.

The Super Catch-Up: A SECURE 2.0 Bonus

Workers ages 60, 61, 62, and 63 get an extra boost thanks to SECURE 2.0's "super catch-up" provision. Instead of the standard $8,000 catch-up, they can contribute an additional $11,250 on top of the base $24,500 limit—a total of $35,750.

This provision is designed to help workers in their peak earning years maximize savings as retirement approaches. However, it's a narrow window: once you turn 64, you revert to the standard catch-up amount.

Saver's Credit Income Limits

Lower and middle-income workers may also qualify for the Saver's Credit, a tax credit worth up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married couples) for retirement contributions. The 2026 income limits are:

  • Married filing jointly: Up to $80,500
  • Head of household: Up to $60,375
  • Single/Married filing separately: Up to $40,250

Maximizing the Opportunity

Financial planners emphasize that the new limits represent an opportunity, not an obligation. Not everyone can—or should—max out their retirement accounts.

"The first priority should be capturing any employer match, which is free money," advised Christine Benz, director of personal finance at Morningstar. "After that, evaluate whether additional contributions fit your overall financial picture, including emergency savings, debt reduction, and other goals."

For those who can afford to increase contributions, the math is compelling:

  • A 35-year-old who increases their 401(k) contribution by $1,000 per year could accumulate an additional $100,000 or more by age 65 (assuming 7% average annual returns)
  • The $500 IRA increase, compounded over 30 years, could grow to approximately $50,000

Action Items for 2026

To take advantage of the higher limits, consider these steps:

  • Review your current contribution percentage and increase if affordable
  • If you're a high earner turning 50 in 2026, prepare for mandatory Roth catch-ups
  • Update beneficiary designations if you haven't reviewed them recently
  • Consider front-loading contributions early in 2026 to maximize time in the market
  • Evaluate whether Roth or traditional contributions make more sense given your tax situation

With Social Security's long-term solvency uncertain and pension coverage declining, individual retirement savings have never been more important. The IRS's higher limits for 2026 provide a modest but meaningful opportunity to accelerate wealth building for the future.