Open enrollment asks you to pick 2027 payroll contributions before the IRS has published every 2027 limit. As of October 18, 2026, some figures are final: HSA limits, the Social Security wage base, the dependent care FSA cap and the new Saver's Match. The headline 401(k) and IRA limits are not.
This guide lists only figures published by the IRS or the Social Security Administration. Where a 2027 number isn't out, the 2026 figure is the reference point. Unofficial projections are left out.
2027 limits at a glance
Status as of October 18, 2026:
| Account / limit | 2026 | 2027 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), 457 and TSP deferral | $24,500 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| Workplace catch-up, age 50+ | $8,000 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| Workplace catch-up, ages 60–63 | $11,250 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| Total employee + employer contributions | $72,000 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| Roth catch-up wage threshold | $150,000 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| IRA (traditional and Roth combined) | $7,500 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| IRA catch-up, age 50+ | $1,100 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| Roth IRA phase-out, single/head of household | $153,000–$168,000 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| Roth IRA phase-out, married filing jointly | $242,000–$252,000 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| Health FSA | $3,400 | Not yet announced | Pending IRS announcement |
| HSA, self-only | $4,400 | $4,500 | Official |
| HSA, family | $8,750 | $9,000 | Official |
| HSA catch-up, age 55+ | $1,000 | $1,000 | Official |
| HDHP minimum deductible (self/family) | $1,700 / $3,400 | $1,750 / $3,500 | Official |
| HDHP out-of-pocket maximum (self/family) | $8,500 / $17,000 | $8,700 / $17,400 | Official |
| Dependent care FSA, per household | $7,500 | $7,500 | Official |
| Trump account, per child | $5,000 | $5,000 | Official |
| Social Security taxable wage base | $184,500 | $192,300 | Official |
| Social Security cost-of-living adjustment | 2.8% | 3.6% | Official |
| Saver's Match, maximum per person | — | $1,000 | Official |
What's already official for 2027
HSAs. Revenue Procedure 2026-24, released in May 2026, sets the 2027 limits at $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage. The $1,000 catch-up at 55 is fixed by statute. To qualify, your health plan needs a deductible of at least $1,750 (self-only) or $3,500 (family) and an out-of-pocket maximum no higher than $8,700 or $17,400. The HSA guide covers eligibility.
Social Security. On October 14, 2026, SSA announced a 3.6% benefit increase starting in January 2027. The maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax rise to $192,300 from $184,500. At the 6.2% employee rate, a worker at or above the cap pays $11,922.60 for 2027.
Dependent care FSA. The 2025 tax law raised the cap to $7,500 per household ($3,750 if married filing separately) starting in 2026. It isn't indexed for inflation, so it stays at $7,500 for 2027 unless Congress changes it. Your employer's plan must be amended to offer it, so check your enrollment materials.
Trump accounts. These children's accounts from the same law have a $5,000 annual limit for 2026 and 2027, indexed for inflation after 2027.
Workplace plans and IRAs: still pending
The IRS hasn't yet published the 2027 deferral limit for 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 and Thrift Savings Plan accounts. It also hasn't published the 2027 catch-ups, the IRA limit or the Roth IRA income ranges. These usually come out in late October or November.
Until then, plan with the 2026 figures. The $24,500 deferral limit covers pre-tax and Roth deferrals together, and it applies to you, not to each plan: two jobs with 401(k)s share one limit. Governmental 457(b) plans have their own separate limit. The 401(k) guide covers matching and vesting.
The 2026 IRA limit is $7,500, plus $1,100 at 50 or older, across all your traditional and Roth IRAs combined. Roth IRA eligibility phases out with income; the Roth IRA guide explains how.
Catch-up rules: age 50, ages 60–63, and the Roth requirement
You qualify for the standard workplace catch-up if you're 50 or older by the end of the calendar year.
Ages 60–63. If you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 during the year, your plan can allow a larger catch-up: $11,250 in 2026 instead of $8,000. Plans don't have to offer it. The year you turn 64, you're back to the standard amount.
The Roth catch-up rule. If your prior-year FICA wages (Box 3 of your W-2) from the employer sponsoring your plan topped $150,000, your 2026 catch-ups to that plan must be Roth. Wages from different employers aren't combined. Final regulations generally apply from 2027; for 2026, plans may use a reasonable, good-faith reading of the law. For 2027, the test uses your 2026 wages against a threshold the IRS hasn't announced. In a plan with no Roth option, affected workers can't make catch-ups.
The Saver's Match starts in 2027
Starting with tax year 2027, the Saver's Match replaces the Saver's Credit for retirement contributions. Instead of a tax credit, it's generally a federal deposit into your retirement account: 50% of up to $2,000 in contributions, so up to $1,000 per person. Contributions to a 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b) or IRA count.
You must be 18 or older by year-end, not a student, and not claimed as a dependent. The match phases out with modified adjusted gross income:
| Filing status (2027) | Full 50% match up to | No match at or above |
|---|---|---|
| Single or married filing separately | $20,500 | $35,500 |
| Head of household | $30,750 | $53,250 |
| Married filing jointly | $41,000 | $71,000 |
You'll claim it on your 2027 return, filed in 2028, and choose which plan or IRA receives the deposit. The IRS described the rules in Notice 2026-48 in August 2026, but regulations aren't final, so details could change.
Deadlines that matter
- 401(k) and similar plans: December 31. The limit is per calendar year, and deferrals come out of your paychecks. Once December's last paycheck runs, that year is closed.
- IRAs and HSAs: the April filing deadline. 2026 contributions can be made until April 15, 2027. 2027 contributions run from January 1, 2027, to the April 2028 filing deadline. A filing extension doesn't extend either.
What to do now
- Set 2027 payroll elections during open enrollment. The open enrollment checklist walks through each one. FSA elections are generally fixed for the plan year unless you have a qualifying change in status.
- Set HSA contributions to the 2027 limits. They're final. Employer contributions count toward your limit.
- Revisit your 401(k) election once the IRS announces. A fixed dollar amount aimed at the maximum will need updating.
- Check 2026 year-to-date deferrals before your final paychecks if you're aiming for the limit; the year-end tax moves guide covers what else has a December 31 deadline.
- Ask about the ages 60–63 catch-up if you'll be eligible in 2027.
To see what a higher contribution could add up to, try the Compound Interest Calculator. The Coast FIRE Calculator shows whether what you've already invested could reach your retirement number on its own. For the other end of the plan, the Roth Conversion and Withdrawal Calculator models withdrawals, RMDs and Roth conversions year by year.
Frequently asked questions
When does the IRS announce new 401(k) and IRA limits?
Usually in late October or November, after inflation data through September is in. The 2026 limits came out on November 13, 2025. The table above shows each 2027 figure's status.
Are the 2027 HSA limits final?
Yes. Revenue Procedure 2026-24 sets them at $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage, plus the $1,000 catch-up at 55.
Can I contribute to both a 401(k) and an IRA?
Yes, the limits are separate. Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) deferrals share one limit; traditional and Roth IRAs share another. If you're covered at work, income can limit a traditional IRA deduction.
What happens if I contribute too much?
For a 401(k), contact your plan administrator early the next year: the excess and its earnings need to come out by April 15, or it's taxed twice. An excess IRA or HSA contribution owes a 6% excise tax for each year it stays in the account, unless you withdraw it and its earnings by your return's due date, including extensions.
Disclaimer
This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized financial, tax, or legal advice. Every reader's situation is different — consult a licensed financial advisor, accountant, or attorney before making decisions based on this content. Figures and rules cited here reflect the most recent information available at time of publication and may change; verify current limits and regulations before acting.