After two years at $19,500, the individual contribution limit for 401k plans in 2022 will increase by $1,000 to $20,500, the Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday afternoon.
The IRS today also issued technical guidance regarding all of the cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2022 in Notice 2021-61, posted today on IRS.gov.
As the contribution limits do not go up every year and while every type of account does not use the same formula for when there will be an increase, contribution levels are generally increased every year or two. With relatively high inflation in 2021, the $1,000 increase was not a big surprise.
While Social Security benefits have a “hold harmless” rule to ensure that recipients don’t receive less from year to year due to inflation or increases in Medicare Part B premiums, there is no such rule for 401k or IRA contribution limits. The inflation adjustment and rounding rule only compares with the base year, so it doesn’t matter what the limit was in the previous year.
Highlights of 2022 changes
The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401k, 403b, most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is increased to $20,500, up from $19,500.
The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401k, 403b, most 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan is increased to $20,500
The income ranges for determining eligibility to make deductible contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), to contribute to Roth IRAs, and to claim the Saver’s Credit all increased for 2022.
Taxpayers can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if they meet certain conditions. If during the year either the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work, the deduction may be reduced, or phased out, until it is eliminated, depending on filing status and income. (If neither the taxpayer nor the spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the phase-outs of the deduction do not apply.) Here are the phase-out ranges for 2022:
- For single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is increased to $68,000 to $78,000, up from $66,000 to $76,000.
- For married couples filing jointly, if the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is increased to $109,000 to $129,000, up from $105,000 to $125,000.
- For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement plan and is married to someone who is covered, the phase-out range is increased to $204,000 to $214,000, up from $198,000 to $208,000.
- For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0 to $10,000.
The income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is increased to $129,000 to $144,000 for singles and heads of household, up from $125,000 to $140,000.
For married couples filing jointly, the income phase-out range is increased to $204,000 to $214,000, up from $198,000 to $208,000. The phase-out range for a married individual filing a separate return who makes contributions to a Roth IRA is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $0 to $10,000.
The income limit for the Saver’s Credit (also known as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is $68,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $66,000; $51,000 for heads of household, up from $49,500; and $34,000 for singles and married individuals filing separately, up from $33,000.
The amount individuals can contribute to their SIMPLE retirement accounts is increased to $14,000, up from $13,500.
Key employee contribution limits remain unchanged
The catch-up contribution limit for employees 50 and over who participate in 401k, 403b, most 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan remains unchanged at $6,500
The limit on annual contributions to an IRA remains unchanged at $6,000. The IRA catch-up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 and over is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $1,000.
The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in 401k, 403b, most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan remains unchanged at $6,500. Therefore, participants in 401k, 403b, most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan who are 50 and older can contribute up to $27,000, starting in 2022. The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in SIMPLE plans remains unchanged at $3,000.
SEE ALSO:
• IRS Releases 2022 HSA Contribution Limits
• 2021 401k Contribution Limits Released: IRS
• It’s Official: 2022 Social Security COLA is Highest in 40 Years