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IRS Announces 2022 Employee Benefit Plan Limits
Wednesday, November 10, 2021

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced the cost-of-living adjustments to the applicable dollar limits for various employer-sponsored retirement and welfare plans for 2022. Most of the dollar limits currently in effect for 2021 will increase.

IN DEPTH


The IRS and the Social Security Administration announced the cost-of-living adjustments to the applicable dollar limits on various employer-sponsored retirement and welfare plans and the Social Security wage base for 2022. The table below compares the applicable dollar limits for certain employee benefit programs and the Social Security wage base for 2021 and 2022.*

RETIREMENT PLAN LIMITS (guidance link)

2021

Δ

2022

Annual compensation limit

$290,000

$305,000

401(k), 403(b) & 457(b) before-tax contributions

$19,500

$20,500

Catch-up contributions (if age 50 or older)

$6,500

$6,500

Highly compensated employee threshold

$130,000

$135,000

Key employee officer compensation threshold

$185,000

$200,000

Defined benefit plan annual benefit and accrual limit

$230,000

$245,000

Defined contribution plan annual contribution limit

$58,000

$61,000

Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) limit for determining the lengthening of the general five-year distribution period

$230,000

$245,000

ESOP limit for determining the maximum account balance subject to the general five-year distribution period

$1,165,000

$1,230,000

HEALTH AND WELFARE PLAN LIMITS (guidance links here and here)

2021

Δ

2022

Health Flexible Spending Accounts

Maximum salary reduction limit

$2,750

$2,850

Health FSA Carryover Limit

$550

$570

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts±

If employee is married and filing a joint return or if the employee is a single parent

$10,500

$5,000

In employee is married but filing separately

$5,250

$2,500

Excepted Benefit Health Reimbursement Arrangements

$1,800

$1,800‡ 

Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit and Qualified Parking (monthly limit)

$270

$280

High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

HDHP – Maximum annual out-of-pocket limit (excluding premiums):

Self-only coverage

$7,000

$7,050

Family coverage

$14,000

$14,100

HDHP – Minimum annual deductible:

Self-only coverage

$1,400

$1,400

Family coverage

$2,800

$2,800

HSA – Annual contribution limit:

Self-only coverage

$3,600

$3,650

Family coverage

$7,200

$7,300

Catch-up contributions (age 55 or older)±

$1,000

$1,000

SOCIAL SECURITY WAGE BASE (guidance link)

2021

Δ

2022

Social Security Maximum Taxable Earnings

$142,800

$147,000

Plan sponsors should update payroll and plan administration systems for the 2022 cost-of-living adjustments and should incorporate the new limits in relevant participant communications, like open enrollment materials and summary plan descriptions.

For further information about applying the new employee benefit plan limits for 2022, contact your regular McDermott lawyer.


* The dollar limits are generally applied on a calendar year basis; however, certain dollar limits are applied on a plan-year, tax-year or limitation-year basis.

‡ This amount is subject to adjustment for inflation per Treas. Reg. §54.9831-1(c)(3)(viii)(B)(1) should the IRS issue additional guidance.

± Not indexed for cost-of-living adjustments, with the exception of limited guidance issued for 2021.

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