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Insights & Education

Catch up on your retirement savings

December 2025 | 3 min read

Did you know that when you turn 50 you may be eligible to save more for retirement beyond the usual annual limits? Catch-up contributions can help boost your retirement savings and reduce your current taxable income when saved in a pretax retirement account. If you’re behind on your savings or just want to maximize your retirement benefits, this could be your chance to explore additional contributions.

Most employees over 50 are eligible

If you participate in an eligible retirement plan, including employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs, you can make catch-up contributions starting the year you turn 50. The chart below shows the IRS contribution limits for eligible plans. These limits are typically adjusted annually for inflation, so you’ll need to check those each year. See the Retirement Plan Contribution Limits page for more details, and consult with a tax or financial professional regarding your specific circumstances.

 

2026 limits with catch-up contributions (ages 50 to 59 and 64+)

401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b)*
Regular limit: $24,500
Age-based catch-up limit: +$8,000
Total: $32,500

*Catch-up contributions do not apply to nongovernmental 457(b) plans. Regular limits for some 457(b) plans may differ. Check with your employer for details. Contribution limits for 457(b) plans do not count toward contribution limits on other types of employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 403(b) and 401(k) plans. For example, if you’re 50 or over you may be able to contribute $32,500 to a 457(b) and to a 403(b) for a total of $65,000 for 2026.


Traditional and Roth IRAs (combined total)
Regular limit: $7,500
Age-based catch-up limit: +$1,100
Total: $8,600


SIMPLE IRA, SIMPLE 401(k)
Regular limit: $17,000
Age-based catch-up limit: +$4,000
Total: $21,000


403(b) service-based catch-ups
For employees with 15 or more years of service who work for a qualifying employer and have undercontributed in prior years

Regular limit with age-based catch-up: $32,500
Service-based catch-up limit: +$3,000
Total: $35,500


457(b) service-based catch-up
For employees who have undercontributed in prior years and are within the last three taxable years prior to the year they reach normal retirement age as specified under the plan (age-based and service-based catch-up contributions cannot be combined but you can choose the higher of the two)

Regular limit: $24,500*
Service-based catch-up limit: +$24,500
Total: $49,000

*Regular limits for some 457(b) plans may differ. Check with your employer for details. Contribution limits for 457(b) plans do not count toward contribution limits on other types of employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 403(b) and 401(k) plans.

There’s a bonus opportunity if you’re between 60 and 63 years old

Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, you can contribute even more in catch-up contributions to eligible employer-sponsored retirement plans in the years you turn age 60, 61, 62 and 63. These higher limits don’t apply to traditional and Roth IRAs, and the regular catch-up limits are still in place for ages 50 to 59 as well as 64 and up.

 

2026 limits for super catch-up contributions (ages 60 to 63)

401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b)*
Regular limit: $24,500
Age-based catch-up limit: +$11,250
Total: $35,750

*Catch-up contributions do not apply to nongovernmental 457(b) plans. Regular limits for some 457(b) plans may differ. Check with your employer for details. Contribution limits for 457(b) plans do not count toward contribution limits on other types of employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 403(b) and 401(k) plans. For example, if you’re age 60 to 63 you may be able to contribute $35,750 to a 457(b) and to a 403(b) for a total of $71,500 for 2026.


SIMPLE IRA, SIMPLE 401(k)
Regular limit: $17,000
Age-based catch-up limit: +$5,250
Total: $22,250

Traditional IRAs have income limits on tax deductions in some cases

If you’re contributing to a traditional IRA, you can potentially deduct the contributions from your taxable income. If neither you nor your spouse have an employer-sponsored retirement plan, there’s no income limit that prevents you from deducting your contributions. However, there are income limits for deducting contributions if you or your spouse is an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, as shown below.

 

2026 allowable deductions by income for traditional IRA (if you or your spouse is an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan)

Single/head of household

Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
Up to $81,000: Full deduction allowed
$81,000–$91,000: Partial deduction allowed
Over $91,000: No deduction allowed


Married filing jointly (if you are participating in an employer-sponsored plan)

Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
Up to $129,000: Full deduction allowed
$129,000–$149,000: Partial deduction allowed
Over $149,000: No deduction allowed


Married filing jointly (if your spouse is participating in an employer-sponsored plan, but you are not)

Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
Up to $242,000: Full deduction allowed
$242,000–$252,000: Partial deduction allowed
Over $252,000: No deduction allowed

Roth IRAs have income limits on contributions

If you want to contribute to a Roth IRA, you’ll be subject to income limits. No contributions are allowed to a Roth IRA if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above the limits. If your income is below the limits, you can make partial or full contributions as shown in the chart.

 

2026 allowable contributions by income for Roth IRA

Single/head of household

Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
Up to $153,000: Full contribution allowed
$153,000–$168,000: Partial contribution allowed
Over $168,000: No contribution allowed


Married filing jointly

Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
Up to $242,000: Full contribution allowed
$242,000–$252,000: Partial contribution allowed
Over $252,000: No contribution allowed


Married filing separately (living with spouse)

Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
Up to $10,000: Full contribution allowed
Over $10,000: No contribution allowed

If your income is over the limits for making Roth IRA contributions, you may have the option for Roth contributions through your employer-sponsored retirement plan. There are no income restrictions on Roth contributions within an employer-sponsored retirement plan.

 

How and when do you make your catch-up contributions?

If you’re saving through an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you can increase your contributions on a per payroll basis or add the extra contributions separately during the year to account for the catch-up contributions. You need to make these contributions by December 31 of the applicable tax year.

Similarly, if you’re making your own IRA contributions, you can contribute in a lump sum or throughout the year. With IRAs, however, you have until the tax deadline (usually April 15) to make contributions that count on the prior year’s taxes.

 

Don’t wait to get the advantages of catch-up contributions

If you’re behind on your retirement saving—and many people are—catch-up contributions are a way to help make up for lost time. Starting as early as age 50 can add 20 or more years of potential growth to your savings before you start taking withdrawals.

Applicable laws and regulations are complex and subject to change. Please consult with your financial professional regarding your situation. For legal, accounting or tax advice consult the appropriate professional. For answers to your questions or help with a personalized plan for your savings, contact your Corebridge financial professional. Reach out to us if you don’t have an assigned financial advisor.

 

This material is general in nature, was developed for educational use only, and is not intended to provide financial, legal, fiduciary, accounting or tax advice, nor is it intended to make any recommendations.

Source for IRS contribution limits and rules: Internal Revenue Service, irs.gov.

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