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Insights: Alerts

2027 Retirement Plan Limits

November 13, 2026

Written by R. Sterling Perkinson

2027 Retirement Plan Limits

The IRS has announced inflation-adjusted limits for retirement plans in Notice 2026-136. The 2027 retirement plan limits are summarized below.

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2026

2027

Maximum Elective Deferrals to §401(k), §403(b), and §457(b) Plans

$24,500

$25,500

Maximum Catch-up Elective Deferrals to Plans (for participants ages 50-59 or ages 64 or older by the end of the year)

$8,000

$8,500

Maximum Catch-up Elective Deferrals to Plans (for participants ages 60-63 by the end of the year)

$11,250

$11,750

Section 415 Limits

- Defined Contribution Plan Annual Addition Maximum

- Defined Benefit Plan Dollar Maximum

$72,000

$290,000

$75,000

$300,000

Annual Compensation Limit under §§401(a)(17), 404(l) and 408(k)

$360,000

$375,000

§414(v)(7)(A) FICA wage threshold for Roth catch-up requirement based on prior year FICA wages (i.e., threshold amount reported in the column for 2027 reflects threshold applied in 2027 based on 2026 FICA wages)

$150,000

$155,000

§414(q) Highly Compensated Employee definition

$160,000

$170,000

§416(i) Top-Heavy Compensation – Used to determine officers as key employees

$235,000

$245,000

Maximum eligible distribution to victims of domestic abuse (if added to the Plan)

$10,500

$10,900

Maximum pension-linked emergency savings account (if added to the Plan)

$2,600

$2,700

Premiums paid for qualifying longevity annuity contracts

$210,000

$220,000

§409(o) Maximum ESOP Account Balance Subject to 5-Year Distribution Period

$1,455,000

$1,505,000

ESOP Amount Used to Determine Extensions of the 5-Year Distribution Period

$290,000

$300,000


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R. Sterling Perkinson

sperkinson@ktslaw.com