Maximum Benefits and Contributions Limits for 1996 to 2016 (Posted on November 13, 2025 by Carol V. Calhoun)


Carol V. Calhoun

The author of this site has now retired. The contents of this site are maintained for archival purposes only, and may not be up to date.

Carol V. Calhoun

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Type of Limitation 20161 20152 20143 20134 20125 20116 20107 20098 20089 200710 200611 200512 200413 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
Elective Deferrals (401(k) and 403(b); not including adjustments and catch-ups) $18,000 $18,000 $17,500 $17,500 $17,000 $16,500 $16,500 $16,500 $15,500 $15,500 $15,000 $14,000 $13,000 $12,000 $11,000 $10,500 $10,500 $10,000 $10,000 $9,500 $9,500
457(b)(2) and 457(c)(1) Limits (not including catch-ups) $18,000 $18,000 $17,500 $17,500 $17,000 $16,500 $16,500 $16,500 $15,500 $15,500 $15,000 $14,000 $13,000 $12,000 $11,000 $8,500 $8,000 $8,000 $8,000 $7,500 NA
Section 414(v) Catch-Up Deferrals to 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), or SARSEP Plans for Individuals Over Age 5014 $6,000 $6,000 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $4,000 $3,000 $2,000 $1,000 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Defined Benefit Plans $210,000 $210,000 $210,000 $205,000 $200,000 $195,000 $195,000 $195,000 $185,000 $180,000 $175,000 $170,000 $165,000 $160,000 $160,000 $140,000 $135,000 $130,000 $130,000 $125,000 $120,000
Defined Contribution Plans (annual additions limit) $53,000 $53,000 $52,000 $51,000 $50,000 $49,000 $49,000 $49,000 $46,000 $45,000 $44,000 $42,000 $41,000 $40,000 $40,000 $35,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000
Annual Compensation Limit $265,000 $265,000 $260,000 $255,000 $250,000 $245,000 $245,000 $245,000 $230,000 $225,000 $220,000 $210,000 $205,000 $200,000 $200,000 $170,000 $170,000 $160,000 $160,000 $160,000 $150,000
Annual Compensation Limit for Grandfathered Participants in Governmental Plans Which Followed 401(a)(17) Limits (With Indexing) on July 1, 1993 $395,000 $395,000 $385,000 $380,000 $375,000 $360,000 $360,000 $360,000 $345,000 $335,000 $325,000 $315,000 $305,000 $300,000 $295,000 $285,000 $275,000 $270,000 $265,000 NA NA
Highly Compensated Employee (“HCEs”) $120,000 $120,000 $115,000 $115,000 $115,000 $110,000 $110,000 $110,000 $105,000 $100,000 $100,000 $95,000 $90,000 $90,000 $90,000 $85,000 $85,000 $80,000 $80,000 $80,000 NA
Key Employee/Officer $170,000 $170,000 $170,000 $165,000 $165,000 $155,000 $155,000 $160,000 $150,000 $145,000 $140,000 $135,000 $130,000 $130,000 $130,000 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), for individuals 49 and below $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,500 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000
Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), for individuals 50 and above $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $5,000 $5,000 $4,500 $3,500 $3,500 $3,500 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000
SIMPLE Retirement Accounts $12,500 $12,500 $12,000 $12,000 $11,500 $11,500 $11,500 $11,500 $10,500 $10,500 $10,000 $10,000 $9,000 $8,000 $7,000 $6,500 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 $6,000 NA
SEP Coverage $600 $600 $550 $550 $550 $550 $550 $550 $500 $500 $450 $450 $450 $450 $450 $450 $450 $400 $400 $400 $400
SEP Compensation $265,000 $265,000 $260,000 $255,000 $250,000 $245,000 $245,000 $245,000 $230,000 $225,000 $220,000 $210,000 $205,000 $200,000 $200,000 $170,000 $170,000 $160,000 $160,000 $160,000 $150,000
Tax Credit ESOP Maximum Balance $1,070,000 $1,070,000 $1,050,000 $1,035,000 $1,015,000 $985,000 $985,000 $985,000 $935,000 $915,000 $850,000 $850,000 $830,000 $810,000 $800,000 $780,000 $755,000 $735,000 $725,000 $710,000 $690,000
Amount for Lengthening of 5-Year ESOP Period $210,000 $210,000 $210,000 $205,000 $200,000 $195,000 $195,000 $195,000 $185,000 $180,000 $175,000 $170,000 $165,000 $160,000 $160,000 $155,000 $150,000 $145,000 $145,000 $140,000 $135,000
Maximum Amount for Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract Purchases $125,000 $125,000 $125,000 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Excess Distribution Threshold NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA $160,000 $155,000
Qualified Police and Firefighters’ DB Benefit Limit NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA $70,000 NA
Income Subject to Social Security Tax $118,500 $118,500 $117,000 $113,700 $110,100 $106,800 $106,800 $106,800 $102,000 $97,500 $94,200 $90,000 $87,900 $87,000 $84,900 $80,400 $76,200 $72,600 $68,400 $65,400 $62,700
FICA Tax for employers 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65%
FICA Tax for employees 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 5.65% 5.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65% 7.65%
Social Security Tax for employers 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20%
Social Security Tax for employees 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 4.20% 4.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20% 6.20%
Medicare Tax for employees and employers15 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45% 1.45%
SECA Tax for self-employed workers 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 13.30% 13.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30% 15.30%
Social Security Tax for self-employed workers 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 10.40% 10.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40% 12.40%
Medicare Tax for self-employed workers 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90% 2.90%

12016 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2015-75, 2015-46 I.R.B. 668 (November 16, 2015) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 15, 2015).

22015 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2014-70, 2014-48 I.R.B. 905 (November 24, 2014) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 22, 2014).

32014 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2013-73, 2013-49 I.R.B. 598 (December 2, 2013) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 30, 2013).

42013 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2012-67, 2012-50 I.R.B. 671 (December 10, 2012) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 18, 2012).

52012 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2011-90, 2011-47 I.R.B. 791 (November 21, 2011) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 20, 2011).

62011 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2010-78, 2010-49 I.R.B. 808 (December 6, 2010) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 15, 2010).

72010 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2009-94, 2009-50 I.R.B. 848 (December 14, 2009) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 15, 2009).

82009 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2008-102, 2008-45 I.R.B. 1107 (November 10, 2008) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 16, 2008).

92008 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2007-87, 2007-45 I.R.B. 966 (November 5, 2007) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 18, 2007).

102007 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2006-98, 2006-46 I.R.B. 906 (November 13, 2006) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 18, 2006).

112006 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2005-75, 2005-45 I.R.B. 929 (November 7, 2005) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 14, 2005).

122005 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2004-72, 2004-46 I.R.B. 840 (November 15, 2004) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 19, 2004).

132004 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2003-73, 2003-45 I.R.B. 1017 (November 10, 2003) and the corresponding Social Security Administration News Release (October 16, 2003).

14 This number is only the catch-up available under Code section 414(v). Code sections 457(b)(3) and 402(g) provide separate catch-up rules, which must also be considered in appropriate cases.

15 Beginning in 2013, there is also a 0.9 percent Additional Medicare Tax that applies to an individual’s wages, Railroad Retirement Tax Act compensation, and self-employment income that exceeds a threshold amount based on the individual’s filing status. The threshold amounts are $250,000 for married taxpayers who file jointly, $125,000 for married taxpayers who file separately, and $200,000 for all other taxpayers. An employer is responsible for withholding the Additional Medicare Tax from wages or compensation it pays to an employee in excess of $200,000 in a calendar year.