2025 401(k) Contribution Limit Increases to $23,500

The Internal Revenue Service announced November 1, 2024 that the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2025 has increased to $23,500, up from $23,000 for 2024.

The IRS also issued technical guidance regarding all of the cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2025 in Notice 2024-80.

Highlights of changes for 2025

The limit on contributions by employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan increases in 2025 to $23,500 up from $23,000 in 2024.

The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in these plans remains $7,500 for 2025.

The limitation for catch-up contributions to an applicable employer plan that applies for individuals who attain age 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2025 is $11,250. The Roth catch-up wage threshold for 2024, which is used to determine whether an individual’s catch-up contributions to an applicable employer plan for 2025 must be designated Roth contributions, remains $145,000

The limitation for defined contribution plans under § 415(c)(1)(A), i.e. the limit on total employer plus employee contributions, is increased to $70,000 for 2025 from $69,000 in 2024.

The annual compensation limit under §§ 401(a)(17), 404(l), 408(k)(3)(C), and 408(k)(6)(D)(ii) is increased from $345,000 to $350,000.

The dollar limitation under § 416(i)(1)(A)(i) concerning the definition of “key employee” in a top-heavy plan is increased from $220,000 to $230,000.

Effective January 1, 2025, the limitation on the annual benefit under a defined benefit plan under section 415(b)(1)(A) of the Code is increased from $275,000 to $280,000.

The limitation used in the definition of “highly compensated employee” undersection 414(q)(1)(B) is increased from $155,000 to $160,000.

Details on these and other retirement-related cost-of-living adjustments for 2025 are in Notice 2024-80 and are also detailed below.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Limits for 2025

Effective January 1, 2025, the limitation on the annual benefit under a defined benefit plan under section 415(b)(1)(A) of the Code is increased from $275,000 to $280,000.

For a participant who separated from service before January 1, 2025, the participant’s limitation under a defined benefit plan under section 415(b)(1)(B) is computed by multiplying the participant’s compensation limitation, as adjusted through 2024, by 1.0262.

The limitation for defined contribution plans under section 415(c)(1)(A) is increased in 2025 from $69,000 to $70,000.

The Code provides that various other amounts are to be adjusted at the same time and in the same manner as the limitation of section 415(b)(1)(A). After taking into account the applicable rounding rules, the amounts for 2025 are as follows:

The limitation under section 402(g)(1) on the exclusion for elective deferrals described in section 402(g)(3), which includes elective deferrals made to the Thrift Savings Plan, is increased from $23,000 to $23,500.

The limitation on deferrals under section 457(e)(15) concerning deferred compensation plans of state and local governments and tax-exempt organizations is increased from $23,000 to $23,500.

The limitation under section 414(v)(2)(B)(i) for catch-up contributions to an applicable employer plan other than a plan described in section 401(k)(11) or section 408(p) that generally applies for individuals aged 50 or over remains $7,500. The limitation under section 414(v)(2)(E)(i) for catch-up contributions to an applicable employer plan other than a plan described in section 401(k)(11) or section 408(p) that applies for individuals who attain age 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2025 is $11,250. The Roth catch-up wage threshold for 2024, which under section 414(v)(7)(A) is used to determine whether an individual’s catch-up contributions to an applicable employer plan (other than a plan described in section 408(k) or (p)) for 2025 must be designated Roth contributions, remains $145,000.

The limitation under section 408(p)(2)(E)(i)(III) that generally applies to salary reduction contributions under a SIMPLE retirement account or elective contributions under a SIMPLE 401(k) plan is increased from $16,000 to $16,500. The limitation for certain of those accounts or plans under section 408(p)(2)(E)(i)(I) or (II) remains $17,600.

The limitation under section 414(v)(2)(B)(ii) for catch-up contributions to an applicable employer plan described in section 401(k)(11) or section 408(p) that generally applies for individuals aged 50 or over remains $3,500. The limitation under section 414(v)(2)(E)(ii) for catch-up contributions to an applicable employer plan described in section 401(k)(11) or section 408(p) that applies for individuals who attain age 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2025 is $5,250. The limitation under section 414(v)(2)(B)(iii) for catch-up contributions to certain accounts or plans described in section 401(k)(11) or section 408(p) that generally applies for individuals aged 50 or over remains $3,850.

The limitation under section 401(k)(16)(D)(i)(II) and 403(b)(16)(D)(i)(II) that generally applies for elective contributions made to a starter 401(k) deferral-only arrangement described in section 401(k)(16)(B) or a safe harbor deferral-only plan described in section 403(b)(16)(B), respectively, remains $6,000. This limitation is increased for individuals who attain age 50 before the end of the taxable year by $1,000.

The threshold used in the definition of “highly compensated employee” under section 414(q)(1)(B) is increased from $155,000 to $160,000.

The threshold under section 416(i)(1)(A)(i) concerning the definition of “key employee” for top-heavy plan purposes is increased from $220,000 to $230,000. The annual compensation limitation under sections 401(a)(17), 404(l), 408(k)(3)(C), and 408(k)(6)(D)(ii) is increased from $345,000 to $350,000. The annual compensation limitation under section 401(a)(17) for eligible participants in certain governmental plans that, under the plan as in effect on July 1, 1993, allowed cost-of-living adjustments to the compensation limitation under the plan under section 401(a)(17) to be taken into account, is increased from $505,000 to $520,000.

The limitation under section 402A(e)(3)(A)(i) concerning pension-linked emergency savings accounts that may be included in certain types of defined contribution plans remains $2,500.

The compensation threshold under section 408(k)(2)(C) regarding simplified employee pensions remains $750.

The amount under section 409(o)(1)(C)(ii) for determining the maximum account balance in an employee stock ownership plan subject to a 5-year distribution period is increased from $1,380,000 to $1,415,000, while the dollar amount used to determine the lengthening of the 5-year distribution period is increased from $275,000 to $280,000.

The limitation on the aggregate amount of length of service awards accruing with respect to any year of service for any bona fide volunteer under section 457(e)(11)(B)(ii) concerning deferred compensation plans of state and local governments and tax-exempt organizations remains $7,500.

The limitation under section 664(g)(7) concerning the qualified gratuitous transfer of qualified employer securities to an employee stock ownership plan remains $60,000.

The compensation amount under § 1.61-21(f)(5)(i) of the Income Tax Regulations concerning the definition of “control employee” for fringe benefit valuation purposes is increased from $135,000 to $140,000. The compensation amount under § 1.61-21(f)(5)(iii) is increased from $275,000 to $285,000.

The limitation on premiums paid for a qualifying longevity annuity contract under § 1.401(a)(9)-6(q)(2)(ii) is increased from $200,000 to $210,000.

The $1,000,000,000 threshold used to determine whether a multiemployer plan is a systemically important plan under section 432(e)(9)(H)(v)(III)(aa) is adjusted using the cost-of-living adjustment provided under section 432(e)(9)(H)(v)(III)(bb). After taking the applicable rounding rule into account, the threshold used to determine whether a multiemployer plan is a systemically important plan under section 432(e)(9)(H)(v)(III)(aa) is increased from $1,369,000,000 to $1,441,000,000.

The Code also provides that several retirement-related amounts are to be adjusted using a variation of the methodology used for the cost-of-living adjustments under section 1(f)(3). After taking the applicable rounding rules into account, the amounts for 2025 are as follows:

The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for married taxpayers filing a joint return is increased from $46,000 to $47,500; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $50,000 to $51,000; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $76,500 to $79,000.

The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for taxpayers filing as head of household is increased from $34,500 to $35,625; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $37,500 to $38,250; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $57,375 to $59,250.

The adjusted gross income limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(A) for determining the retirement savings contributions credit for all other taxpayers is increased from $23,000 to $23,750; the limitation under section 25B(b)(1)(B) is increased from $25,000 to $25,500; and the limitation under sections 25B(b)(1)(C) and 25B(b)(1)(D) is increased from $38,250 to $39,500.

The deductible amount under section 219(b)(5)(A), which limits the amount of an individual’s deductible qualified retirement contributions for a taxable year remains $7,000. The increase in the deductible amount pursuant to section 219(b)(5)(B)(ii) for individuals who have attained age 50 before the close of the taxable year remains $1,000.

The applicable amount under section 219(g)(3)(B)(i) for determining the deductible amount of an IRA contribution for taxpayers who are active participants filing a joint return or as a qualifying widow(er) is increased from $123,000 to $126,000. The applicable amount under section 219(g)(3)(B)(ii) for all other taxpayers who are active participants (other than married taxpayers filing separate returns) is increased from $77,000 to $79,000. If an individual or the individual’s spouse is an active participant, the applicable amount under section 219(g)(3)(B)(iii) for a married individual filing a separate return is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0. The applicable amount under section 219(g)(7)(A) for a taxpayer who is not an active participant but whose spouse is an active participant is increased from $230,000 to $236,000.

In light of the changes to the applicable amounts, under section 219(g)(2)(A), the deduction for taxpayers making contributions to a traditional IRA is phased out for single individuals and heads of household who are active participants in a qualified plan (or another retirement plan specified in section 219(g)(5)) and have adjusted gross incomes (as defined in section 219(g)(3)(A)) between $79,000 and $89,000, increased from between $77,000 and $87,000. For married couples filing jointly, if the spouse who makes the IRA contribution is an active participant, the income phase-out range is between $126,000 and $146,000, increased from between $123,000 and $143,000. For an IRA contributor who is not an active participant and is married to someone who is an active participant, the deduction is phased out if the couple’s income is between $236,000 and $246,000, increased from between $230,000 and $240,000. For a married individual filing a separate return who is an active participant, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0 to $10,000.

The adjusted gross income limitation under section 408A(c)(3)(B)(ii)(I) for determining the maximum Roth IRA contribution for married taxpayers filing a joint return or for taxpayers filing as a qualifying widow(er) is increased from $230,000 to $236,000. The adjusted gross income limitation under section 408A(c)(3)(B)(ii)(II) for all other taxpayers (other than married taxpayers filing separate returns) is increased from $146,000 to $150,000. The applicable amount under section 408A(c)(3)(B)(ii)(III) for a married individual filing a separate return is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0.

In light of the changes to the adjusted gross income limitations, under section 408A(c)(3)(A), the adjusted gross income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is between $236,000 and $246,000 for married couples filing jointly, increased from between $230,000 and $240,000. For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is between $150,000 and $165,000, increased from between $146,000 and $161,000. For a married individual filing a separate return, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.

The aggregate amount of qualified charitable distributions that are not includible in gross income under section 408(d)(8)(A) is increased from $105,000 to $108,000. The amount of qualified charitable distributions made directly to a split[1]interest entity that are not includible in gross income under section 408(d)(8)(F)(i)(II) pursuant to a one-time election is increased from $53,000 to $54,000.

The annual compensation limitation under section 45E(f)(2)(C) for employees excluded from the calculation of the additional small employer pension plan startup cost credit for certain employer contributions is $105,000.

The limitation under section 72(t)(2)(K)(ii)(I) for eligible distributions to victims of domestic abuse from applicable eligible retirement plans is increased from $10,000 to $10,300.

The limitation under section 401(a)(39)(B)(i)(III) on a qualified long-term care distribution from a qualified defined contribution plan with respect to certified long-term care insurance applicable for distributions made after December 29, 2025, is $2,600.

The limitation under section 408(p)(2)(A)(iv) for additional nonelective contributions for an employee to a SIMPLE retirement account or a SIMPLE 401(k) plan is increased from $5,000 to $5,100