401(k) deferral
Unchanged
20152016
2015 vs 2016 401(k) & IRA Limits
401(k) deferral $18,000 vs $18,000; IRA $5,500 vs $5,500.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2016
IRA limit
Unchanged
50+ catch-up
Unchanged
Side-by-side scoreboard
2015
$18,000
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $5,500
- 50+ catch-up
- $6,000
- §415(c)
- $53,000
2016
$18,000
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $5,500
- 50+ catch-up
- $6,000
- §415(c)
- $53,000
Full limit comparison
401(k) elective deferral
2015$18,000
2016$18,000
Age 50+ catch-up
2015$6,000
2016$6,000
Total under 60 / 64+
2015$24,000
2016$24,000
Ages 60–63 catch-up
2015—
2016—
IRA limit
2015$5,500
2016$5,500
IRA at age 50+
2015$6,500
2016$6,500
§415(c) combined
2015$53,000
2016$53,000
Compensation cap
2015$265,000
2016$265,000
SIMPLE elective
2015$12,500
2016$12,500
Education
What the 2015 → 2016 changes mean for savers
More (or less) paycheck deferral room
The elective-deferral change of $0 (increase) is the maximum extra (or reduced) amount under-50 workers could elect from pay—before catch-up. Age-50+ catch-up moved $0.
IRA room is independent
IRA limits changed by $0. That room stacks with workplace deferrals, so a COLA on both sides can meaningfully raise total tax-advantaged savings capacity even if each individual jump looks small.
Watch §415(c) if you get a large match
Combined additions rose from $53,000 to $53,000. High earners with rich matches can hit this ceiling before they exhaust elective-deferral + catch-up room.
Super catch-up context
Neither year includes the SECURE 2.0 ages 60–63 higher catch-up (starts 2025).
Compare other years
Compare any two years
401(k) deferrals, catch-ups, IRA limits, and §415(c) caps.
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Current-year calculators
FAQs
The §402(g) elective deferral limit went from $18,000 in 2015 to $18,000 in 2016 ($0 change). Age-50+ catch-up went from $6,000 to $6,000.
The IRA limit moved from $5,500 to $5,500. Age-50+ IRA catch-up went from $1,000 to $1,000 (max $6,500 at age 50+ in 2016).
2015: $24,000 ($18,000 + $6,000). 2016: $24,000 ($18,000 + $6,000).
Neither year has the ages 60–63 higher catch-up (it starts in 2025).
Annual additions (employee + employer) were capped at $53,000 in 2015 vs $53,000 in 2016. The compensation cap moved from $265,000 to $265,000.
SIMPLE elective contributions: $12,500 → $12,500. SIMPLE age-50+ catch-up: $3,000 → $3,000.
They tied at $18,000.
No in either year. Match and other employer contributions do not reduce your §402(g) elective-deferral room, but they do count toward the higher §415(c) annual-additions limit.
Yes for both years: Traditional and Roth share one annual IRA limit ($5,500 in 2015, $5,500 in 2016), plus catch-up if eligible. Roth contributions also face AGI phaseouts that change yearly.
These pages are IRS reference tables for tax years 2015 and 2016. The 401(k) match and Roth IRA calculators model current-year limits, not a historical year selector.