Crank the Volume on your 2026 Contribution Limits!

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Listen up, my financial warriors friends! The IRS doesn’t hand out bigger retirement contribution limits like ear plugs at a metal show. They claim it’s all “indexed to inflation.” Sure, but sometimes that indexing moves slower than a power ballad. Still, limits do rise… just not every year, and not by the same formula for every account.

After inflation spiked in 2022, the 2023 bump was huge. Since then? Inflation’s cooled, the Fed’s flexed, and the IRS has gone back to its usual modest increases. So for 2026, we’re getting steady, predictable growth with nothing too crazy, but better than flatlining.

Before we dive into the numbers, let’s hit the biggest rule shake-up coming from SECURE 2.0. This is the the set of laws that just keeps financial planners both excited and confused lol!

The SECURE 2.0 Catch-Up Shake-Up

• Roth catch-ups for high earners are coming.
  If your prior-year wages exceed roughly $145,000, your 401(k) or 403(b) catch-up contributions will eventually have to be Roth (after-tax).
  But hold the phone! This rule will now kick in after December 31, 2026, meaning most plans start in 2027.

• “Super Catch-Up” for Ages 60–63.
  The SECURE 2.0 lets savers in their early 60s go total beast-mode and level up to 150% of the normal catch-up(or more, if adjusted for inflation in the future). Think roughly $11,250 or higher, depending on inflation.

• SIMPLE plans get a 110% boost.
  SIMPLE IRA and SIMPLE 401(k) plans use a smaller bump (110% of the standard catch-up). Check your plan’s fine print since not every employer will adopt it right away.

The Eternal Battle of Inflation vs. Contribution Limits

Inflation never rests. The IRS uses CPI data to adjust limits, usually every year or two. That’s why these numbers crawl up slowly instead of leaping. If a year goes by and nothing changes, don’t panic and lose your shit. This is just the slow roll of math doing its thing.

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