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If you are age 50 or older, you can make additional contributions to your retirement plan beyond the standard annual IRS limit. These extra contributions are called catch-up contributions and are designed to help you increase your retirement savings as you get closer to retirement.

Catch-up contributions may be important

Whether you're catching up on retirement savings or looking to maximize your plan, catch-up contributions can help you grow more tax-deferred savings and support your long-term financial goals.

You should consider taking advantage of the benefit to:
  • Help you make up for years when you were not able to save as much
  • Contribute more if your income has increased over time
  • Increase the likelihood that you have enough saved to cover realistic retirement expenses as you get closer to retirement

There’s more than one kind of catch-up contribution, and you might be eligible for more than one. Here are key catch-up contributions to be aware of:

  • Age-based 50+: If you’re age 50 or older, you can make extra contributions beyond the regular annual limit. The IRS sets a separate catch-up limit for these additional contributions. This can help you boost your savings as you get closer to retirement.
  • Special age-based 60–63: If you reach the ages of 60 through 63 by the end of a calendar year, you can contribute even more than the age 50+ catch-up limit. The limit during these ages is 150% of the standard catch-up amount, giving you a chance to supercharge your savings. Be aware that if you’re turning 64 within a calendar year, you’re eligible only for the 50+ catch-up that year.
  • 457(b): If you’re within 3 years of your plan’s normal retirement age, you may be eligible to make a one-time election to contribute additional money to your retirement plan. This type of catch-up is also subject to an IRS limit set annually.
  • 403(b): If you have 15 or more years of service at the same employer and haven’t maxed out your 403(b) contributions in previous years, you can contribute an additional $3,000 a year. This catch-up has a $15,000 lifetime limit.
Find out how much you can contribute each year and the latest additional contribution catch-up amounts to take advantage of.
View IRS limits

Changes for higher earners

Starting in 2026, there are additional restrictions if you are age 50 or older and earned more than $150,000 in FICA (Social Security) wages in the previous year:

  • If you earned more than $150,000 in FICA (Social Security) wages the previous year (indexed for inflation), age-based catch-up contributions you make starting in 2026 must be Roth contributions.
    • FICA wages include salary, tips, bonuses, commissions and taxable fringe benefits (Box 3 on your W-2).
    • This provision applies only to age-based catch-ups. Traditional or Special 457(b) catch-ups remain pre-tax. 
  • Roth contributions are made with after-tax dollars. Roth earnings can be withdrawn tax-free if the withdrawal meets plan distribution requirements, the account has been open for at least 5 years and at least one of the following conditions is met: age 59½ or older, disability or death.
  • If you earned $150,000 or less, you can continue to choose between pre-tax and Roth for your catch-up contributions.
If your plan currently does not offer Roth contributions and you earned more than $150,000, you will not be able to make catch-up contributions until Roth is added.

What should you do now?

  • Check your W-2 from the previous year to learn whether you earned more than $150,000 in FICA (Social Security) wages.
  • Check whether your plan offers Roth contributions.
  • Review your current contribution level to make sure you are taking advantage of catch-up contributions.
  • Contact your plan administrator or financial professional if you have questions about how these changes may affect you or what steps to take next.