401(k) deferral
+$500
20182019
2018 vs 2019 401(k) & IRA Limits
401(k) deferral $18,500 vs $19,000; IRA $5,500 vs $6,000.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2019
IRA limit
+$500
50+ catch-up
Unchanged
Side-by-side scoreboard
2018
$18,500
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $5,500
- 50+ catch-up
- $6,000
- §415(c)
- $55,000
2019
$19,000
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $6,000
- 50+ catch-up
- $6,000
- §415(c)
- $56,000
Full limit comparison
401(k) elective deferral
2018$18,500
2019$19,000
Age 50+ catch-up
2018$6,000
2019$6,000
Total under 60 / 64+
2018$24,500
2019$25,000
Ages 60–63 catch-up
2018—
2019—
IRA limit
2018$5,500
2019$6,000
IRA at age 50+
2018$6,500
2019$7,000
§415(c) combined
2018$55,000
2019$56,000
Compensation cap
2018$275,000
2019$280,000
SIMPLE elective
2018$12,500
2019$13,000
Education
What the 2018 → 2019 changes mean for savers
More (or less) paycheck deferral room
The elective-deferral change of $500 (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 $500. 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 $55,000 to $56,000. 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 $18,500 in 2018 to $19,000 in 2019 ($500 change). Age-50+ catch-up went from $6,000 to $6,000.
The IRA limit moved from $5,500 to $6,000. Age-50+ IRA catch-up went from $1,000 to $1,000 (max $7,000 at age 50+ in 2019).
2018: $24,500 ($18,500 + $6,000). 2019: $25,000 ($19,000 + $6,000).
Neither year has the ages 60–63 higher catch-up (it starts in 2025).
Annual additions (employee + employer) were capped at $55,000 in 2018 vs $56,000 in 2019. The compensation cap moved from $275,000 to $280,000.
SIMPLE elective contributions: $12,500 → $13,000. SIMPLE age-50+ catch-up: $3,000 → $3,000.
2019 was higher ($19,000 vs $18,500).
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 2018, $6,000 in 2019), plus catch-up if eligible. Roth contributions also face AGI phaseouts that change yearly.
These pages are IRS reference tables for tax years 2018 and 2019. The 401(k) match and Roth IRA calculators model current-year limits, not a historical year selector.