401(k) deferral
Unchanged
20202021
2020 vs 2021 401(k) & IRA Limits
401(k) deferral $19,500 vs $19,500; IRA $6,000 vs $6,000.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2021
IRA limit
Unchanged
50+ catch-up
Unchanged
Side-by-side scoreboard
2020
$19,500
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $6,000
- 50+ catch-up
- $6,500
- §415(c)
- $57,000
2021
$19,500
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $6,000
- 50+ catch-up
- $6,500
- §415(c)
- $58,000
Full limit comparison
401(k) elective deferral
2020$19,500
2021$19,500
Age 50+ catch-up
2020$6,500
2021$6,500
Total under 60 / 64+
2020$26,000
2021$26,000
Ages 60–63 catch-up
2020—
2021—
IRA limit
2020$6,000
2021$6,000
IRA at age 50+
2020$7,000
2021$7,000
§415(c) combined
2020$57,000
2021$58,000
Compensation cap
2020$285,000
2021$290,000
SIMPLE elective
2020$13,500
2021$13,500
Education
What the 2020 → 2021 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 $57,000 to $58,000. 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 $19,500 in 2020 to $19,500 in 2021 ($0 change). Age-50+ catch-up went from $6,500 to $6,500.
The IRA limit moved from $6,000 to $6,000. Age-50+ IRA catch-up went from $1,000 to $1,000 (max $7,000 at age 50+ in 2021).
2020: $26,000 ($19,500 + $6,500). 2021: $26,000 ($19,500 + $6,500).
Neither year has the ages 60–63 higher catch-up (it starts in 2025).
Annual additions (employee + employer) were capped at $57,000 in 2020 vs $58,000 in 2021. The compensation cap moved from $285,000 to $290,000.
SIMPLE elective contributions: $13,500 → $13,500. SIMPLE age-50+ catch-up: $3,000 → $3,000.
They tied at $19,500.
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 ($6,000 in 2020, $6,000 in 2021), plus catch-up if eligible. Roth contributions also face AGI phaseouts that change yearly.
These pages are IRS reference tables for tax years 2020 and 2021. The 401(k) match and Roth IRA calculators model current-year limits, not a historical year selector.