What are the 2025 contribution limits for IRAs and 401(k)s?

by | Nov 29, 2025 | AI Tax Answer Library

Here’s what HIVE AI had to say about “What are the 2025 contribution limits for IRAs and 401(k)s?”:

2025 Retirement Contribution Limits

401(k), 403(b), and Governmental 457(b)

  • Employee elective deferral limit: $23,500
  • Age 50+ catch‑up: $7,500
  • Special age 60–63 catch‑up (SECURE 2.0): $11,250 (instead of $7,500) for those turning 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2025
  • Combined potential deferral for age 50+: up to $31,000 (or up to $34,750 if age 60–63 in 2025, subject to plan terms)

IRAs (Traditional and Roth) — Personal Contribution Limits

  • IRA contribution limit: $7,000
  • Age 50+ IRA catch‑up: $1,000 (total $8,000 if age 50+)

SIMPLE IRA and SIMPLE 401(k)

  • Employee deferral limit: $16,500
  • Age 50+ catch‑up: $3,500
  • Note: SECURE 2.0 may allow a higher SIMPLE deferral limit for certain small employers; check your plan.

Special starter deferral‑only 401(k)/403(b) plans

  • Starter 401(k) and 403(b) deferral‑only plans: $6,000 employee deferral limit for 2025, with statutory COLA framework in future years

Additional catch‑up for ages 60–63 in SIMPLE IRA/401(k)

  • Higher catch‑up for ages 60–63 (SECURE 2.0) applies; for SIMPLE plans, the standard catch‑up is $3,500 and the special higher catch‑up amount for 2025 is $5,250 for SIMPLE‑type plans referenced under 401(k)(11)/408(p)

Key notes

  • Roth IRA income limits and traditional IRA deduction phase‑outs also adjust annually; confirm your eligibility based on 2025 MAGI thresholds in the latest IRS guidance.
  • Plan‑imposed limits may be lower, and employer contributions can be subject to separate overall plan limits.

Sources

1 – IRS Newsroom – IR-2024-285 📄 Summarize
2 – IRS – Publication 560 Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE and Qualified Plans) 📄 Summarize
3 – Notice 2024-80 📄 Summarize
4 – IRS – Publication 590-A Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) 📄 Summarize


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