Americans will be able to sock away more in their workplace retirement plans, before taxes, in 2025.
The IRS said on Friday it increased the annual employee deferral limit to $23,500, from $23,000 in 2024, for workplace plans, including 401(k)s, 403(b)s, governmental 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan. Catch-up contributions for those participants aged 50 and up will remain at $7,500, which means their total contribution for 2025 is capped at $31,000.
In 2023, only 14% of employees maxed out their workplans, according to Vanguard's How America Saves report. In plans offering catch-up contributions, 15% of participants 50 or older contributed more, it said.
Starting in 2025, employees aged 60 to 63 years old who participate in one of those work plans have a higher catch-up contribution limit. That cap is $11,250, instead of $7,500.
"Once you hit age 64, you are no longer eligible for a super catch-up contribution and are limited to the regular catch-up contribution amount," said certified public accountant Richard Pon in San Francisco, California.
But remember, "right now, technically, there is no law that says that employers must offer a super catch-up contribution so I believe an employer’s retirement plan must be amended to specifically allow for a super catch-up contribution."
The limit on annual contributions to an IRA remains $7,000. The IRA catch‑up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 also stayed at $1,000 for 2025, after a cost-of-living adjustment, the IRS said.
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Yes, the income ranges to determne eligibility to make deductible contributions to a traditional IRA, to contribute to Roth IRAs and to claim the Saver’s Credit all increased for 2025, the IRS said.
Here are the phase‑out ranges for 2025:
Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.