401(k) deferral
−$500
20252024
2025 vs 2024 401(k) & IRA Limits
401(k) deferral $23,500 vs $23,000; IRA $7,000 vs $7,000.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2025
IRA limit
Unchanged
50+ catch-up
Unchanged
Side-by-side scoreboard
2025
$23,500
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $7,000
- 50+ catch-up
- $7,500
- §415(c)
- $70,000
2024
$23,000
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $7,000
- 50+ catch-up
- $7,500
- §415(c)
- $69,000
Full limit comparison
401(k) elective deferral
2025$23,500
2024$23,000
Age 50+ catch-up
2025$7,500
2024$7,500
Total under 60 / 64+
2025$31,000
2024$30,500
Ages 60–63 catch-up
2025$11,250
2024—
IRA limit
2025$7,000
2024$7,000
IRA at age 50+
2025$8,000
2024$8,000
§415(c) combined
2025$70,000
2024$69,000
Compensation cap
2025$350,000
2024$345,000
SIMPLE elective
2025$16,500
2024$16,000
Education
What the 2025 → 2024 changes mean for savers
More (or less) paycheck deferral room
The elective-deferral change of $500 (decrease) 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 $70,000 to $69,000. High earners with rich matches can hit this ceiling before they exhaust elective-deferral + catch-up room.
Super catch-up context
Ages 60–63 catch-up: $11,250 in 2025 vs n/a in 2024. Eligible participants use that amount instead of the regular age-50+ catch-up.
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 $23,500 in 2025 to $23,000 in 2024 ($-500 change). Age-50+ catch-up went from $7,500 to $7,500.
The IRA limit moved from $7,000 to $7,000. Age-50+ IRA catch-up went from $1,000 to $1,000 (max $8,000 at age 50+ in 2024).
2025: $31,000 ($23,500 + $7,500). 2024: $30,500 ($23,000 + $7,500).
In 2025: $11,250. In 2024: not available.
Annual additions (employee + employer) were capped at $70,000 in 2025 vs $69,000 in 2024. The compensation cap moved from $350,000 to $345,000.
SIMPLE elective contributions: $16,500 → $16,000. SIMPLE age-50+ catch-up: $3,500 → $3,500.
2025 was higher ($23,500 vs $23,000).
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 ($7,000 in 2025, $7,000 in 2024), plus catch-up if eligible. Roth contributions also face AGI phaseouts that change yearly.
These pages are IRS reference tables for tax years 2025 and 2024. The 401(k) match and Roth IRA calculators model current-year limits, not a historical year selector.