The Internal Revenue Service recently announced its cost-of-living adjustments applicable to dollar limitations on benefits and contributions for retirement plans generally effective for Tax Year 2023 (see IRS Notice 2022-55). Most notably, the limitation on annual salary deferrals into a 401(k) or 403(b) plan will increase from $20,500 to $22,500 and the dollar threshold for highly compensated employees will increase to $150,000. The more significant dollar limits for 2023 are as follows:
LIMIT |
2022 |
2023 |
401(k)/403(b) Elective Deferral Limit (IRC § 402(g)) The annual limit on an employee’s elective deferrals to a 401(k) or 403(b) plan made through salary reduction. |
$20,500 |
$22,500 |
Government/Tax Exempt Deferral Limit (IRC § 457(e)(15)) The annual limit on an employee’s elective deferrals concerning Section 457deferred compensation plans of state and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. |
$20,500 |
$22,500 |
401(k)/403(b)/457 Catch-up Limit (IRC § 414(v)(2)(B)(i)) In addition to the regular limit on elective deferrals described |
$6,500 |
$7,500 |
Defined Contribution Plan Limit (IRC § 415(c)) The limitation for annual contributions to a defined contribution |
$61,000 |
$66,000 |
Defined Benefit Plan Limit (IRC § 415(b)) The limitation on the annual benefits from a defined benefit plan. |
$245,000 |
$265,000 |
Annual Compensation Limit (IRC § 401(a)(17)) The maximum amount of compensation that may be taken into account for benefit calculations and nondiscrimination testing. |
$305,000 ($450,000 for certain gov’t plans) |
$330,000 ($490,000 for certain gov’t plans) |
Highly Compensated Employee Threshold (IRC § 414(q)) The definition of an HCE includes a compensation threshold for |
$135,000 (for 2023 HCE determination) |
$150,000 (for 2024 HCE determination) |
Key Employee Compensation Threshold (IRC § 416) The definition of a key employee includes a compensation threshold. Key employees must be determined for purposes of applying the top-heavy rules. Generally, a plan is top-heavy if the plan benefits of key employees exceed 60% of the aggregate plan benefits of all employees. |
$200,000 |
$215,000 |
SEP Minimum Compensation Limit (IRC § 408(k)(2)(C)) The mandatory participation requirements for a simplified |
$650 |
$750 |
SIMPLE Employee Contribution (IRC § 408(p)(2)(E)) The limitation on deferrals to a SIMPLE retirement account. |
$14,000 |
$15,500 |
SIMPLE Catch-up Limit (IRC § 414(v)(2)(B)(ii))) The maximum amount of catch-up contributions that individuals |
$3,000 |
$3,500 |
Social Security Taxable Wage Base See the 2023 SS Changes Fact Sheet. This threshold is the maximum amount of earned income on which Social Security taxes may be imposed (6.20% paid by the employee and 6.20% paid by the employer). |
$147,000 |
$160,200 |