Every autumn the Internal Revenue Service adjusts the amounts you can put into tax-advantaged accounts for the following year. Those adjustments matter because the accounts themselves are some of the most useful tools ordinary savers have: a 401(k) or 403(b) lowers taxable income today or grows tax-free later, an IRA gives you a second bucket outside your job, and a health savings account (HSA) can cover medical costs with money that was never taxed. This guide explains where the limits stand as of early November 2026, which 2027 numbers are already official, and how to plan while the rest are pending.
Quick status check: what the IRS has and has not announced
The IRS publishes the new figures in separate documents at different times of the year. HSA limits come out in late spring, while the limits for 401(k) plans and IRAs usually appear in October or November, after the September inflation data is final. Last year the 2026 retirement limits were released in mid-November 2025 (IRS news release IR-2025-111 and Notice 2025-67).
| Account | 2027 status (as of November 2, 2026) |
|---|---|
| HSA | Official: published in Revenue Procedure 2026-24 |
| 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457, Thrift Savings Plan | Not yet announced by the IRS; 2026 limits shown below |
| Traditional and Roth IRA | Not yet announced by the IRS; 2026 limits shown below |
| Federal income tax brackets and standard deduction | Not yet announced by the IRS for 2027 |
You will see many websites quoting “2027 limits” for 401(k)s and IRAs. Those numbers are projections built from inflation data by consulting and actuarial firms. They are often close to the final figures, but they are not official until the IRS publishes them, and the rounding rules in the tax code mean a projection can miss by a step. Until then, the safest approach is to plan with the confirmed 2026 numbers and adjust your payroll election once the IRS releases its notice.
Health savings accounts: 2027 limits are final
In Revenue Procedure 2026-24, the IRS set the 2027 HSA contribution limits and the definitions of a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP). Contributions count toward the limit whether they come from you, your employer, or both.
| HSA item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution limit, self-only coverage | $4,400 | $4,500 |
| Contribution limit, family coverage | $8,750 | $9,000 |
| Catch-up contribution (age 55 or older) | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| HDHP minimum deductible, self-only / family | $1,700 / $3,400 | $1,750 / $3,500 |
| HDHP out-of-pocket maximum, self-only / family | $8,500 / $17,000 | $8,700 / $17,400 |
The $1,000 catch-up amount is fixed by statute and is not indexed for inflation, which is why it has not changed for years. To contribute to an HSA at all, you must be covered by a qualifying HDHP and generally have no other disqualifying health coverage, and you cannot be enrolled in Medicare. If you are married and both spouses have HSA-eligible coverage, special rules apply to how the family limit is split, so it is worth reading IRS Publication 969 or asking a tax professional.
Workplace retirement plans: the 2026 limits you can rely on now
These figures were confirmed by the IRS for 2026 and apply to 401(k), 403(b), most governmental 457 plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan.
| Workplace plan item | 2026 limit |
|---|---|
| Employee elective deferral | $24,500 |
| Catch-up contribution, age 50 and older | $8,000 (total possible: $32,500) |
| Higher catch-up for ages 60 to 63 | $11,250 (instead of $8,000) |
| SIMPLE plan employee deferral | $17,000 ($18,100 for certain applicable plans) |
| SIMPLE catch-up, age 50 and older | $4,000 ($3,850 for certain applicable plans); $5,250 for ages 60 to 63 |
The “ages 60 to 63” catch-up came from the SECURE 2.0 Act. It applies only in the calendar years in which you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63; at 64 you return to the regular age-50 catch-up. Another SECURE 2.0 change took effect for 2026: employees whose prior-year Social Security wages from the employer exceeded an indexed threshold ($150,000 for the 2026 determination) must make any catch-up contributions as Roth (after-tax) contributions. Your plan administrator applies this rule, but it is worth knowing why your catch-up dollars might show up in a Roth sub-account.
IRAs: the 2026 limits and income ranges
The IRA limit is a combined cap across all your traditional and Roth IRAs. You may contribute up to the limit or your taxable compensation for the year, whichever is lower.
| IRA item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Contribution limit | $7,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and older | $1,100 (total $8,600) |
| Roth IRA phase-out, single or head of household | Modified AGI $153,000 to $168,000 |
| Roth IRA phase-out, married filing jointly | Modified AGI $242,000 to $252,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction phase-out, single and covered by a workplace plan | $81,000 to $91,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction phase-out, married filing jointly, contributing spouse covered | $129,000 to $149,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction phase-out, spouse not covered but married to someone who is | $242,000 to $252,000 |
Notice that the IRA catch-up is now indexed. For decades it was a flat $1,000; SECURE 2.0 tied it to inflation, which is why it rose to $1,100 for 2026. Also remember that a traditional IRA contribution is always allowed if you have earned income; the income ranges only determine whether the contribution is deductible.
Timing rules that trip people up
- Workplace plans run on the calendar year. 401(k) deferrals for 2026 must come out of paychecks dated in 2026. If you want to max out, check how many pay periods remain and raise your percentage before the final paychecks of the year.
- IRA and HSA contributions have extra time. You can generally make 2026 IRA and HSA contributions until the federal filing deadline in April 2027 (not including extensions). Tell the custodian which tax year the deposit is for.
- The limits are per person, not per plan. If you change jobs mid-year, your elective deferrals across both employers count toward one $24,500 limit. Payroll systems do not talk to each other, so you have to track this yourself.
- Employer money is separate. Employer matches and profit-sharing do not count against your personal deferral limit, although a larger overall cap applies to the total.
How to plan before the 2027 numbers arrive
- Set a percentage, not just a dollar amount. If your payroll election is a percentage of pay, raises and new limits flow through automatically. Revisit it once the IRS announces 2027 figures.
- Capture the full employer match first. Whatever the limit is, contributing enough to receive the full match is usually the first priority, because the match is part of your compensation.
- Update your HSA payroll election during open enrollment. The 2027 HSA numbers are final, so you can already divide $4,500 or $9,000 (minus any employer contribution) by your number of 2027 pay periods.
- Watch for your birthday milestones. Turning 50, 55 (for HSAs) or 60 during 2027 unlocks catch-up room for the whole year, even if your birthday is in December.
- Avoid excess contributions. Putting in more than the limit leads to corrective distributions and possible penalties. If you overshoot, contact the plan or custodian promptly.
Frequently asked questions
When will the IRS announce the 2027 401(k) and IRA limits?
The IRS does not pre-announce a date. In recent years the notice has appeared between late October and mid-November. When it is released, it will be posted in the IRS newsroom and as an official notice.
Can I contribute to both a 401(k) and an IRA?
Yes. The limits are separate. Being covered by a workplace plan only affects whether your traditional IRA contribution is deductible, based on the income ranges shown above.
Does an HSA have a “use it or lose it” rule?
No. HSA balances roll over from year to year and belong to you even if you change employers. That is different from a health flexible spending account (FSA), where unused money can be forfeited depending on your plan’s rules.
The bottom line
As of early November 2026, only the 2027 HSA limits are official: $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage. For workplace plans and IRAs, use the confirmed 2026 limits of $24,500 and $7,500 respectively until the IRS publishes its 2027 notice, and treat any other “2027” number as an estimate. This article is general education, not personal tax or investment advice; for decisions about your own situation, consider speaking with a licensed tax professional or financial planner.
Sources
- IRS: 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500 (IR-2025-111)
- Journal of Accountancy: HSA inflation-adjusted maximum contribution amounts for 2027 announced (Rev. Proc. 2026-24)
- IRS Publication 969: Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans
Featured image: Flip Schulke / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain