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New For 2026: Catch-up Contributions for High Earners Must be Roth

Beginning in 2026, employees who earned more than $150,000 of wages in 2025 and elect to make 2026 catch-up contributions in their workplace retirement plan will be required to make those catch-up contributions on a Roth basis

The practical impact of this rule is that higher earning employees will only be able to deduct the standard retirement plan contribution amount, they will not be able to deduct any catch-up contributions to workplace plans and must instead make those catch-up contributions to a designated Roth account. Key data points around his rule are provided below:

  • This rule only applies to catch-up contributions in workplace plans for high earners; IRA catch-up contributions are not impacted.
  • The income threshold is based on FICA wages from the prior year, and this threshold will be adjusted for inflation in future years.
  • If an employee changed jobs in the prior year, only wages from the current new employer in the prior year will be used to determine if the income threshold was exceeded.
  • If a workplace retirement plan does not have a Roth option, employees with income exceeding the threshold in a prior year will be unable to make catch-up contributions.

Account Type

2026 Base Contribution

(not subject to mandatory Roth rule)

2026 Catch-up Contribution Limit

(subject to the mandatory Roth rule for high earners)

401(k), 203(b) and most 457 Plans

$24,500

  • $8,000: Participants ages 50-59 and 64+
  • $11,250: Participants ages 60-63

Discussions regarding taxation and/or potential tax deductions should be held with the individual's qualified tax professional.


SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS

NOT A DEPOSIT

NOT FDIC-INSURED

NOT BANK GUARANTEED

MAY LOSE VALUE

SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS
NOT A DEPOSIT NOT FDIC-INSURED
NOT BANK GUARANTEED MAY LOSE VALUE

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