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 differed before the addition of the super catch-up contributions, and what catch-up contributions look like for 2026.
The information and analysis contained within this article appears for your consideration, but it does not constitute individualized financial advice. Always act at your own discretion.
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2024 Contribution Limits Under Age 50
Let’s start out by showing what contribution limits looked like in 2024.
In 2024, contributions to 401(k)s and equivalent accounts—including 403(b)s, governmental 457 plans, and Thrift Savings Plans—for workers under age 50 were capped at $23,000. The combined maximum for employee and employer contributions was $69,000.
One noteworthy exception to this rule was a 401(k)-esque plan, the SIMPLE IRA, which is available for employers with 100 or fewer employees who received at least $5,000 in compensation from the employer in the prior year.
With SIMPLE IRAs, employees have a smaller employee contribution limit than 401(k)s, but employers are also required to offer all eligible employees either a mandatory matching contribution of up to 3% of compensation, or a nonelective contribution of 2% of compensation.
SIMPLE IRAs had a baseline employee contribution limit of $16,000 in 2024. But many businesses didn’t use that limit. That’s because in 2024, contribution rules changed to provide higher limits for certain businesses. The limit was 10% higher—so, $17,600—for all employers with no more than 25 employees, as well as employers of 26-100 employees who chose to offer either a 4% match or 3% non-elective contribution.
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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. The base catch-up contribution limit was $3,500, for a combined $19,500 contribution limit for employees. However, people who worked for employers with no more than 25 employees, as well as employers of 26-100 employees who chose to offer either a 4% match or 3% non-elective contribution, also enjoyed a higher catch-up contribution limit of $3,850, for a total of $21,450.
Super catch-up contributions weren’t available in 2024—they began in 2025.
Additionally, in 2024, employers with a SIMPLE IRA plan were granted the ability to make an additional, uniform nonelective contribution to all employees, limited to the lesser of up to 10% of compensation or $5,000.
2026 Contribution Limits Under Age 50
Good news for retirement savers of all ages: Contribution limits in 2026 have gone up across the board!
In 2026, the annual contribution limit for people under age 50 who are saving in a 401(k) or equivalent is $24,500, up $1,000 from 2025. Employer contribution limits have also jumped by $1,000, to $47,500, for a combined limit of $72,000.
For SIMPLE IRAs, the baseline employee contribution limit is $17,000, which is also up $500 from 2025. However, employees who work for an employer with 1-25 employees, or for an employer with 26-100 employees that also provides one of the qualifying higher employer contributions, enjoy a higher contribution limit of $18,100 in 2026.
Related: 10 Worst 401(k) Money Mistakes to Avoid
2026 Catch-Up Contribution Limit Changes
Starting in 2025, a new rule (courtesy of the SECURE 2.0 Act) split catch-up contributions for most workplace plans into two categories:
- Regular catch-up contributions for those ages 50 to 59, as well as 64 and older
- “Super” catch-up contributions for those ages 60 to 63.
The regular catch-up contribution for 2026 was increased by $500, to $8,000, while the super catch-up contribution was maintained at the $11,250 it began at in 2025. So, here’s what the larger catch-up situation looks like for 2026:
- Ages 50-59, 64+: Your catch-up contribution limit is $8,000.
- Total employee contribution limit: $32,500
- Total combined (employee + employer) contribution limit: $80,000
- Ages 60-63: Your super catch-up contribution limit is $11,250.
- Total employee contribution limit: $35,750
- Total combined (employee + employer) contribution limit: $83,250
For SIMPLE IRAs, the 2026 baseline catch-up contribution limit for those ages 50-59 and 64-plus has grown by $500, to $4,000. However, the catch-up contribution limit for employees of businesses with 1-25 employees or with 26-100 employees and a qualifying employer match or contribution is actually a little less than that, at $3,850.
The super catch-up contribution limit for employees ages 60-63 is the greater of $5,000 or 150% of the regular SIMPLE IRA contribution limit, regardless of employer size. That’s $5,250 in 2026, which is unchanged from 2025.
In other words …
- Ages 50-59, 64+ (company has 26-100 employees, makes 3% match or 2% contribution): Your catch-up contribution limit is $4,000.
- Total employee contribution limit: $21,000
- Ages 50-59, 64+ (company has 1-25 employees, or 26-100 employees and employer makes a 4% match/3% contribution): Your catch-up contribution limit is $3,850.
- Total employee contribution limit: $21,950
- Ages 60-63 (company has 26-100 employees, makes 3% match or 2% contribution): Your catch-up contribution limit is $5,250.
- Total employee contribution limit: $22,250
- Ages 60-63 (company has 1-25 employees, or 26-100 employees and employer makes a 4% match/3% contribution): Your catch-up contribution limit is $5,250.
- Total employee contribution limit: $23,350
Meanwhile, the SIMPLE IRA additional nonelective contribution for 2026 is the lesser of up to 10% of compensation or $5,300.
Related: How to Invest for (And in) Retirement: Strategies + Investment Options
Which Accounts Added Super Catch-Up Contributions?
In addition to 401(k) accounts, the following equivalent accounts also gained 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 ages 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 2026, the contribution limit for an IRA is $7,500 (up from $7,000 in 2025), and the catch-up contribution limit for an IRA is $1,100 (up $100 from 2025). 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 HSA contribution limits for 2026 are $4,400 (self-only coverage) and $8,750 (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
