Certain retirement plan and IRA limits are indexed for inflation each year, but only some of the limits eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) have increased for 2021. Some of the key numbers for 2021 are listed below, with the corresponding limit for 2020. (The source for these 2021 numbers is IRS Notice 2020-79.)
| Elective deferral limits | 2020 | 2021 |
| 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, 457(b) plans, and SAR-SEPs1 (includes Roth contributions) | Lesser of $19,500 or 100% of participant’s compensation ($26,000 if age 50 or older)2 | Lesser of $19,500 or 100% of participant’s compensation ($26,000 if age 50 or older)2 |
| SIMPLE 401(k) plans and SIMPLE IRA plans1 | Lesser of $13,500 or 100% of participant’s compensation ($16,500 if age 50 or older) | Lesser of $13,500 or 100% of participant’s compensation ($16,500 if age 50 or older) |
| IRA contribution limits | 2020 | 2021 |
| Traditional and Roth IRAs | Lesser of $6,000 or 100% of earned income ($7,000 if age 50 or older) | Lesser of $6,000 or 100% of earned income ($7,000 if age 50 or older) |
| Defined benefit plan annual benefit limits | 2020 | 2021 |
| Annual benefit limit per participant | Lesser of $230,000 or 100% of average compensation for highest three consecutive years | Lesser of $230,000 or 100% of average compensation for highest three consecutive years |
| Defined contribution plan limits (qualified plans, 403(b) plans, and SEP plans) | 2020 | 2021 |
| Annual addition limit per participant (employer contributions; employee pre-tax, after-tax, and Roth contributions; and forfeitures) | Lesser of $57,000 or 100% (25% for SEP) of participant’s compensation | Lesser of $58,000 or 100% (25% for SEP) of participant’s compensation |
1 Must aggregate employee deferrals to all 401(k), 403(b), SAR-SEP, and SIMPLE plans of all employers; 457(b) contributions are not aggregated. For SAR-SEPs, the percentage limit is 25% of compensation reduced by elective deferrals (effectively a 20% maximum contribution).
2 Special catch-up limits may also apply to 403(b) and 457(b) plan participants.
| Retirement plan compensation limits | 2020 | 2021 |
| Maximum compensation per participant that can be used to calculate tax-deductible employer contribution (qualified plans/SEPs) | $285,000 | $290,000 |
| Compensation threshold used to determine a highly compensated employee | $130,000 (when 2020 is the look-back year) | $130,000 (when 2021 is the look-back year) |
| Compensation threshold used to determine a key employee in a top-heavy plan | $1 for more-than-5% owners $185,000 for officers $150,000 for more-than-1% owners | $1 for more-than-5% owners $185,000 for officers $150,000 for more-than-1% owners |
| Compensation threshold used to determine a qualifying employee under a SIMPLE plan | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Compensation threshold used to determine a qualifying employee under a SEP plan | $600 | $650 |
| Income phaseout range for determining deductibility of traditional IRA contributions for taxpayers: | 2020 | 2021 |
| 1. Covered by an employer-sponsored plan and filing as: | ||
| Single/Head of household | $65,000 – $75,000 | $66,000 – $76,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $104,000 – $124,000 | $105,000 – $125,000 |
| Married filing separately | $0 – $10,000 | $0 – $10,000 |
| 2. Not covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan, but filing joint return with a spouse who is covered by a plan | $196,000 – $206,000 | $198,000 – $208,000 |
| Income phaseout range for determining ability to fund a Roth IRA for taxpayers filing as: | 2020 | 2021 |
| Single/Head of household | $124,000 – $139,000 | $125,000 – $140,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $196,000 – $206,000 | $198,000 – $208,000 |
| Married filing separately | $0 – $10,000 | $0 – $10,000 |
