Nearing retirement but not sure whether you have enough saved? While there isn’t a time machine that can take you back to when you first started working, rules around 401(k)s and other retirement accounts have shifted to give you an even better chance at catching up.
Starting in 2025, American retirement savers can make super catch-up contributions to their 401(k)s and other workplace plans—if they’re within the right age range. Specifically, super catch-up contributions—which have an even higher limit than standard catch-up contributions—are for adults between the ages of 60 and 63.
Read on as I discuss which accounts are affected by the newly introduced super catch-up contribution limits, how contribution limits from 2024 and 2025 differ, and how workers should proceed.
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2024 Contribution Limits Under Age 50
First, let’s start out by showing what contribution limits looked like in 2024.
Contributions to 401(k)s and equivalent accounts for workers under age 50 were capped at $23,000 in 2024. The combined maximum for employee and employer contributions was $69,000.
One noteworthy exception: a 401(k)-esque plan, the SIMPLE IRA, had a smaller employee contribution limit of $16,000 in 2024. Employers could either dollar-for-dollar match up to 3% of a worker’s pay, or contribute a flat 2% of compensation (and the calculation for that 2% couldn’t use any more than $345,000 of an employer’s salary.)
However, the limit increased by 10% for employers with no more than 25 employees, as well as for employers with 26-100 employees who also offered either a 4% match or 3% non-elective contribution. For those employers, the employee contribution limit was $17,600.
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2024 Catch-Up Contribution Limits
And this is what catch-up contribution limits looked like in 2024.
Anyone age 50 and older could make a catch-up contribution of up to $7,500 to a 401(k) plan or equivalent. That brought the total contribution limit for the year to $30,500, and the maximum combined employee-employer contribution to $76,500.
The catch-up contribution limit for SIMPLE IRAs was different, too, at $3,500, putting the contribution maximum for workers age 50 and older at $19,500. Those eligible for the additional 10% could contribute up to another $3,850, for a total of $21,450.
Super catch-up contributions weren’t available in 2024—they began in 2025.
2025 Contribution Limits Under Age 50
Good news for retirement savers of all ages: Contribution limits in 2025 have gone up across the board!
In 2025, the annual contribution limit for people under age 50 who are saving in a 401(k) or equivalent is $23,500, up $500 from 2024. Employer contribution limits have also jumped, to $47,500, for a combined limit of $71,000.
For SIMPLE IRAs, the employee contribution limit is $16,500, which is also up $500 from 2024. However, the 10% additional rule still applies to the 2024 number, putting the number for employers with 1-25 employees, or 26-100 employees who offer a 4% match or 3% flat contribution, at $17,600.
Related: 10 Worst 401(k) Money Mistakes to Avoid
2025 Catch-Up Contribution Limit Changes
The catch-up contribution limit for 401(k)s and equivalents hasn’t exactly increased for 2025—it’s still $7,500—but a new rule, courtesy of the SECURE 2.0 Act, has split catch-up contribution limits into two categories:
- Ages 50-59, 64+: Your catch-up contribution limit is still $7,500.
- Total employee contribution limit: $31,000
- Total employee/employer contribution limit: $78,500
- Ages 60-63: You have a super catch-up contribution limit of $11,250.
- Total employee contribution limit: $34,750
- Total employer contribution limit: $82,250
For SIMPLE IRAs …
- Ages 50-59, 64+: Your catch-up contribution limit is still $3,500, or $3,850 if your company has 1-25 employees, or 26-100 employees and a 4% match/3% contribution.
- Total employee contribution limit of $20,000
- Total employee contribution limit of $21,450 if 10% bonus limits apply
- Ages 60-63: Your super catch-up contribution limit for 2025 is the greater of $5,000 or 150% of the regular SIMPLE IRA contribution limit, so $5,250, no matter your company size.
- Total employee contribution limit of $21,750
- Total employee contribution limit of $22,850 if 10% regular contribution bonus limit applies
Cost-of-living adjustments to catch-up contributions will begin in 2026.
Related: How to Invest for (And in) Retirement: Strategies + Investment Options
What Accounts Are Included in the Change?
In addition to 401(k) accounts, the following equivalent accounts also have new super-catch-up contributions:
- 403(b)
- Governmental 457 plans
- Thrift Savings Plan
- SIMPLE IRA
As previously noted, 401(k), 403(b), 457, and Thrift Savings Plans all have the same catch-up contribution limit for adults aged 60 to 63, but the limit for SIMPLE IRAs is different.
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Related: 5 Costly 401(k) Rollover Mistakes You Must Avoid
Do All Accounts Have Super Catch-Up Contributions for Ages 60-63?
No, not every retirement account has super catch-up contributions.
For instance, an individual retirement account (IRA) doesn’t have super catch-up contributions, but it does have regular catch-up contributions. For 2025, the contribution limit for an IRA is $7,000, and the catch-up contribution limit for an IRA is $1,000 (same as 2024). To qualify for catch-up contributions, you must be at least 50 years old.
While not technically a retirement account, many people use health savings accounts (HSAs) as a retirement savings vehicle. The contribution limits for 2025 are $4,300 (self-only coverage) and $8,550 (family coverage), while the catch-up contribution limit—for those age 55 and older—is $1,000, same as it was in 2024.
Related: How Much Social Security Will I Receive?
Should I Take Advantage of The Super Catch-Up Contribution Limit?
Generally, the more money you contribute to retirement accounts, the better. But your 401(k) or equivalent may not be the only retirement account you have. Usually, your order of operations should be as follows:
- Employer retirement account match
- Max out an HSA (if you’re eligible for one), including catch-up contributions
- Max out an IRA, including catch-up contributions
- Max out your 401(k), including catch-up/super catch-up contributions
- Invest in a taxable brokerage account
If you can afford to do so, making super catch-up contributions is an excellent way to boost your retirement savings.
One more consideration is whether you have any high-interest debt, such as credit card debt or a payday loan. In this situation, you likely want to prioritize paying off your high-interest debt before making any catch-up contributions to retirement accounts.
Related: What to Do With Your 401(k) When You Retire
Do you want to get serious about saving and planning for retirement? Sign up for Retire With Riley, Young and the Invested’s free retirement planning newsletter.
How Else Can I Save for Retirement?
As I touched upon in the last section, a traditional or Roth IRA and HSA—all tax-advantaged accounts—are wonderful ways to save for retirement.
- Traditional IRA earnings grow on a tax-deferred basis and, if you don’t have a workplace retirement plan, contributions may be tax-deductible.
- Comparatively, Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax funds. The money grows tax-free and withdrawals during retirement are tax-free (assuming you are at least 59½ and the account has been open for at least five years).
- HSA contributions are tax-deductible (even if you don’t itemize), contributions grow tax-deferred, and any money withdrawn for qualified medical expenses isn’t taxed.
You can also invest for retirement through a taxable brokerage account. There are no tax benefits, but there are no contribution limits either.
A few other options include (but aren’t limited to) setting up an annuity, buying alternative investments, or investing in real estate.
Not confident in your best course of action? Consider discussing your retirement goals with a financial advisor who can help you develop a retirement plan.
Related: How to Choose a Financial Advisor
