💵 Money › 2027 tax numbers › 401(k) and IRA limits 2027
IRS notice expected November 2026401k and IRA Contribution Limits for 2027
By The Trends Incoming team · Published Oct 18, 2026 · Last updated Oct 18, 2026
Short answer: the official 2027 limits aren't out. The IRS puts them out in November. Based on the final September 2026 inflation data, the 401(k) limit is projected to rise $1,000 to $25,500. The official 2026 limit is $24,500, and the IRA limit is $7,500. Here's every number, clearly labeled.
🏦 2026 official vs 2027 projected
| Limit | 2026 OFFICIAL IRS | 2027 PROJECTED |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457, TSP: employee deferral | $24,500 | $25,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and older | $8,000 | $8,500 |
| Catch-up, ages 60 to 63 | $11,250 | $11,750 |
| Total additions, employee plus employer (415(c)) | $72,000 | $75,000 |
| Roth catch-up wage threshold (prior-year FICA wages) | $150,000 | $155,000 |
| Traditional and Roth IRA | $7,500 | Not projected ($7,500 or $8,000) |
| IRA catch-up, age 50 and older | $1,100 | Not projected |
| SIMPLE IRA / SIMPLE 401(k) | $17,000 | Not projected |
2026: IRS IR-2025-111 and Notice 2025-67. 2027 projections: Milliman final estimates, October 15, 2026.
📉 2026 IRA income phase-outs (official)
| Who | 2026 range (modified AGI) |
|---|---|
| Traditional IRA deduction: single, covered by a workplace plan | $81,000 to $91,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction: married filing jointly, contributor covered | $129,000 to $149,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction: contributor not covered, spouse covered | $242,000 to $252,000 |
| Roth IRA: single and head of household | $153,000 to $168,000 |
| Roth IRA: married filing jointly | $242,000 to $252,000 |
| Married filing separately (both) | $0 to $10,000 (not indexed) |
🔍 How the 2027 projection works
The 401(k) family of limits is indexed by law (Internal Revenue Code section 415(d)) to the CPI-U average for July through September compared with a base quarter. Each increase is rounded down: to $500 for deferrals and catch-ups, $1,000 for total additions and $5,000 for the Roth catch-up wage threshold. BLS published September 2026 CPI on October 14, so all the inputs are in. Milliman ran the formula and gets $25,500. The IRS still does the official math, so we keep the projected label until its notice.
IRA limits use a different index (chained CPI) and only move in $500 steps, and we haven't found a reliable public projection, so we don't print one.
Also funding health costs pre-tax? The 2027 HSA limits are already official. And see where your income lands with the bracket calculator.
Quick answers
How much can I put in my 401(k) in 2027?
The IRS hasn't announced it yet; the notice is scheduled for November 2026. Milliman's final estimate, based on September 2026 inflation data, is $25,500, up from the official 2026 limit of $24,500. Treat $25,500 as projected until the IRS confirms it.
What is the 401(k) catch-up limit for 2027?
Projected: $8,500 for ages 50 and older and $11,750 for ages 60 to 63 (Milliman estimate). Official 2026 amounts are $8,000 and $11,250.
What is the IRA contribution limit for 2027?
Not announced. The 2026 limit is $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up at 50 or older. The IRA limit only moves in $500 steps, so 2027 will be either $7,500 or $8,000. We don't publish a single projection and will update the day the IRS notice comes out.
When does the IRS announce 2027 401(k) limits?
The IRS guidance plan lists the retirement plan cost-of-living notice for November 2026. The 2026 limits came out November 13, 2025.
What is the total 401(k) limit including employer contributions for 2027?
Projected: $75,000 for employee plus employer additions combined, up from $72,000 in 2026 (Milliman estimate). Catch-up contributions sit on top. Your plan's own rules can be lower.
Related on Trends Incoming
- Social Security 2027: 3.6% COLA calculator and payment dates
- Medicare open enrollment 2027 (Oct 15 to Dec 7)
- HealthCare.gov open enrollment 2027 (Nov 1 to Jan 15)
- Retirement and Social Security trends
Sources
- IRS IR-2025-111: 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500
- IRS Notice 2025-67: 2026 retirement plan cost-of-living adjustments
- IRS: 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits
- IRS: IRA contribution limits
- Milliman: 2027 IRS limits, final estimates (Oct 15, 2026, estimates, not IRS)
- IRS 2026 to 2027 priority guidance plan (lists the 2027 inflation revenue procedure for October 2026)
By The Trends Incoming team · Fact-checked 2026-10-18. Dates change, so double-check with the official source.