Table of Contents
What is a catch-up contribution?
Catch-up contribution limits
How to calculate your maximum catch-up contribution
The bottom line
What Are Catch-up Contributions & How Do They Work?
Feb 10, 2022
·
4 min read
Catch-up contributions are available for a few different types of retirement savings accounts, but the catch-up limit and the overall limit are different depending on the kind of account.
Sometimes people aren’t able to allocate as much money to retirement savings as they’d like, especially early in their career when they might have imminent financial needs and aren’t making as much money as they might later on. According to a recent Vanguard report, only 12% of participants in 401(k) plans contribute the $19,500 limit, and 27% of participants contribute less than 4% of their annual income to their 401(k).
To help bridge the gap between what they may not have saved early on in life, catch-up contributions allow people to contribute extra as they near retirement.
, like employer-sponsored 401(k)s, have annual contribution limits. A catch-up contribution is a contribution to a retirement savings plan that exceeds the annual limit. To be eligible to make a catch-up contribution, investors must be age 50 or older. They can start making catch-up contributions in the calendar year they turn 50, even if it’s before their 50th birthday.
Catch-up contributions were introduced in The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA) of 2001. At that time, the provision was set to expire in 2010, but the Pension Protection Act (PPA) of 2006 made catch-up contributions and other pension-related rules, like increased salary deferral contribution limits to a 401(k), permanent.
Catch-up contributions are available for a few different types of retirement savings accounts, but the catch-up limit and the overall limit are different depending on the kind of account. Retirement accounts that allow for catch-up contributions include the commonly used employer-sponsored 401(k), traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs. Here’s a closer look at contribution limits for various types of retirement accounts.
In this employer-sponsored plan, employees make contributions to their 401(k) with pretax income. Taxes are paid on this money when it’s withdrawn during retirement.
As of 2022, the annual limit for a 401(k) plan is $20,500, but workers 50 and up can make an annual catch-up contribution of $6,500, bringing the overall limit to $27,000. Some employers choose to match their employers’ contribution up to a certain percentage. Employer contributions do not count toward the maximum 401(k) limit.
Similar to 401(k)s, traditional individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, are funded with pretax income, and tax isn’t due until the money is withdrawn. Unlike a 401(k), an IRA does not have to be sponsored by an employer.
With a Roth IRA, contributions are made with post-tax dollars, but they’re not taxed when they’re withdrawn for retirement.
Both traditional and Roth IRAs have an annual contribution limit of $6,000, but those aged 50 and older can make an annual catch-up contribution of $1,000, bringing the overall limit to $7,000.
Traditional IRA and Roth IRA account holders can only contribute a combined $6,000, plus the $1,000 catch-up contribution, to both accounts. If they also have a 401(k) plan, it will not affect their IRA contribution limit (though it can affect tax deductions).
A SEP IRA is similar to a traditional IRA in that it is not tied to an employer, so it’s commonly used by self-employed workers or owners of small businesses. Like 401(k)s and traditional IRAs, contributions are made with pretax income and taxed once they’re withdrawn during retirement.
Unlike a traditional IRA, a SEP IRA has a higher annual contribution limit of $13,500. Those aged 50 and older can make an annual catch-up contribution of $3,000, bringing the overall limit to $16,500.
While they have high contribution limits, there are other eligibility requirements and stipulations involved with SEP IRAs—meaning they’re not for everyone.
To begin making catch-up contributions, investors can set their contribution rate to meet the higher limit—say, $26,000 versus $19,500 for a 401(k)—by the end of the year.
Because 401(k) contributions are made as a percentage of gross income, and lump sum contributions may not be allowed, it takes a little math to figure out how to meet, but not exceed, the annual contribution limit.
To max out their 401(k), a 50-year-old employee would contribute $26,000 over the course of the year. If they make $100,000 per year, they need to set their contribution rate to 26%. If they make $150,000 per year, their contribution rate will be 17%. To simplify the calculation (and ensure meeting the maximum contribution), it helps to set the contribution rate at the beginning of the year, so it can stay consistent.
Contribution rate needed to reach >50 Limit = (($19,500 + $6,500) / Annual salary) x 100
If people do accidentally make deposits that go beyond the annual contribution limit, they will need to withdraw the extra money before they do their taxes. Otherwise, they’ll be subject to a 6% excise tax on the amount that exceeds the limit.
Saving for retirement can be intimidating, and most people don’t (or are unable to) set aside enough money early in their career. Catch-up contributions are a tool for people aged 50 and older to step up their savings as they near retirement.
At Titan, we are value investors: we aim to manage our portfolios with a steady focus on fundamentals and an eye on massive long-term growth potential. Investing with Titan is easy, transparent, and effective.
Get started today.
Disclosures
Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Titan has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. In addition, this content may include third-party advertisements; Titan has not reviewed such advertisements and does not endorse any advertising content contained therein.
This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investors or prospective investors, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any strategy managed by Titan. Any investments referred to, or described are not representative of all investments in strategies managed by Titan, and there can be no assurance that the investments will be profitable or that other investments made in the future will have similar characteristics or results.
Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see Titan’s Legal Page for additional important information.
You might also like
How to Decide When to Retire In Five Easy Steps
The time to retire depends on the person, with proper planning you can align health needs and lifestyle with adequate financial support. Here's what you need to know.
Read More
Your Retirement Checklist and To-Do List
Doing the research and developing a personalized retirement checklist might help ease this chapter in life. And some people seek the expertise of a financial advisor.
Read More
What Is the 4 Percent Rule and Is It Still Used Today?
The 4% rule assumes that most retirees can safely withdraw 4% plus the annualized rate of inflation each year and not outlive a 30-year retirement. Learn how it works.
Read More
Understanding Defined-Contribution Plans
A defined-contribution plan is an employer-sponsored retirement plan in which the employee, and sometimes the employer, contribute to the employee’s retirement account.
Read More