401(k) deferral
−$5,000
20262020
2026 vs 2020 401(k) & IRA Limits
401(k) deferral $24,500 vs $19,500; IRA $7,500 vs $6,000.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
IRA limit
−$1,500
50+ catch-up
−$1,500
Side-by-side scoreboard
2026
$24,500
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $7,500
- 50+ catch-up
- $8,000
- §415(c)
- $72,000
2020
$19,500
401(k) elective deferral
- IRA
- $6,000
- 50+ catch-up
- $6,500
- §415(c)
- $57,000
Full limit comparison
401(k) elective deferral
2026$24,500
2020$19,500
Age 50+ catch-up
2026$8,000
2020$6,500
Total under 60 / 64+
2026$32,500
2020$26,000
Ages 60–63 catch-up
2026$11,250
2020—
IRA limit
2026$7,500
2020$6,000
IRA at age 50+
2026$8,600
2020$7,000
§415(c) combined
2026$72,000
2020$57,000
Compensation cap
2026$360,000
2020$285,000
SIMPLE elective
2026$17,000
2020$13,500
Education
What the 2026 → 2020 changes mean for savers
More (or less) paycheck deferral room
The elective-deferral change of $5,000 (decrease) is the maximum extra (or reduced) amount under-50 workers could elect from pay—before catch-up. Age-50+ catch-up moved $1,500.
IRA room is independent
IRA limits changed by $1,500. 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 $72,000 to $57,000. 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 2026 vs n/a in 2020. 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.
Related tools
401(k) match calculatorEmployer match and contribution planningRoth IRA calculatorContribution limits and growthUS paycheck calculatorModel deductible contributionsRoth vs TraditionalTax timing on contributionsFederal tax brackets by yearHistorical rates and deductionsRetirement taxes by stateHow states treat retirement income
Current-year calculators
FAQs
The §402(g) elective deferral limit went from $24,500 in 2026 to $19,500 in 2020 ($-5,000 change). Age-50+ catch-up went from $8,000 to $6,500.
The IRA limit moved from $7,500 to $6,000. Age-50+ IRA catch-up went from $1,100 to $1,000 (max $7,000 at age 50+ in 2020).
2026: $32,500 ($24,500 + $8,000). 2020: $26,000 ($19,500 + $6,500).
In 2026: $11,250. In 2020: not available.
Annual additions (employee + employer) were capped at $72,000 in 2026 vs $57,000 in 2020. The compensation cap moved from $360,000 to $285,000.
SIMPLE elective contributions: $17,000 → $13,500. SIMPLE age-50+ catch-up: $4,000 → $3,000.
2026 was higher ($24,500 vs $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 ($7,500 in 2026, $6,000 in 2020), plus catch-up if eligible. Roth contributions also face AGI phaseouts that change yearly.
These pages are IRS reference tables for tax years 2026 and 2020. The 401(k) match and Roth IRA calculators model current-year limits, not a historical year selector.