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Retirement Planning Key Numbers

Retirement Planning Key Numbers

November 30, 2024

Certain retirement plan and IRA limits rose for 2025. These tables offer an overview of the changes.


Elective deferral limits

20242025
401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, 457(b) plans, and SAR-SEPs1(includes Roth contributions)Lesser of $23,000 or 100% of compensation ($30,500 if age 50 or older)2Lesser of $23,500 or 100% of compensation ($31,000 if age 50 or older; $34,750 if age 60 to 63)2
SIMPLE 401(k) plans and SIMPLE IRA plans1Lesser of $16,000 or 100% of compensation ($19,500 if age 50 or older)Lesser of $16,500 or 100% of compensation ($20,000 if age 50 or older; $21,750 if age 60 to 63)
SIMPLE 401(k) plans and SIMPLE IRA plans with 25 or fewer employees (or those that elect these higher limits)1Lesser of $17,600 or 100% of compensation ($21,450 if age 50 or older)Lesser of $17,600 or 100% of compensation ($21,450 if age 50 or older; $22,850 if age 60 to 63)
Starter 401(k) plans and safe-harbor 403(b) plansBetween 3% and 15% of annual compensation up to a maximum of $6,000 ($7,000 if age 50 or older)Between 3% and 15% of annual compensation up to a maximum of $6,000 ($7,000 if age 50 or older)


IRA contribution limits

20242025
Traditional and Roth IRAsLesser of $7,000 or 100% of earned income ($8,000 if age 50 or older)Lesser of $7,000 or 100% of earned income ($8,000 if age 50 or older)


Defined benefit plan annual benefit limits

20242025
Annual benefit limit per participantLesser of $275,000 or 100% of average compensation for highest three consecutive yearsLesser of $280,000 or 100% of average compensation for highest three consecutive years


Defined contribution plan limits [qualified plans, 403(b) plans, and SEP plans]

20242025
Annual addition limit per participant (employer contributions; employee pre-tax, after-tax, and Roth contributions; and forfeitures)Lesser of $69,000 or 100% (25% for SEP) of participant's compensationLesser of $70,000 or 100% (25% for SEP) of participant's compensation
Pension-linked emergency savings accounts (maximum amount attributable to employee deferrals)$2,500$2,500
Retirement plan compensation limits20242025
Maximum compensation per participant that can be used to calculate tax-deductible employer contribution (qualified plans/SEPs)

$345,000

$350,000

Compensation threshold used to determine a highly compensated employee

$155,000 (when 2024 is the look-back year)

$160,000 (when 2025 is the look-back year)

Compensation threshold used to determine a key employee in a top-heavy plan

$1 for more-than-5% owners

$220,000 for officers

$150,000 for more-than-1% owners

$1 for more-than-5% owners

$230,000 for officers

$150,000 for more-than-1% owners

Compensation threshold used to determine a qualifying employee under a SIMPLE plan

$5,000

$5,000

Compensation threshold used to determine a qualifying employee under a SEP plan

$750

$750


Income phase-out range for determining deductibility of traditional IRA contributions for taxpayers:20242025

1. Covered by an employer-sponsored plan and filing as:

Single/Head of household

$77,000 - $87,000

$79,000 - $89,000

Married filing jointly

$123,000 - $143,000

$126,000 - $146,000

Married filing separately

$0 - $10,000

$0 - $10,000

2. Not covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan, but filing joint return with a spouse who is covered by a plan

$230,000 - $240,000

$236,000 - $246,000


Income phase-out range for determining ability to fund a Roth IRA for taxpayers filing as:20242025

Single/Head of household

$146,000 - $161,000

$150,000 - $165,000

Married filing jointly

$230,000 - $240,000

$236,000 - $246,000

Married filing separately

$0 - $10,000

$0 - $10,000


Must aggregate employee deferrals to all 401(k), 403(b), SAR-SEP, and SIMPLE plans of all employers; 457(b) contributions are not aggregated. For SAR-SEPs, the percentage limit is 25% of compensation reduced by elective deferrals (effectively a 20% maximum contribution).

Special catch-up limits may also apply to 403(b) and 457(b) plan participants.