The Internal Revenue Service recently announced its cost-of-living adjustments applicable to dollar limitations for retirement plans and Social Security generally effective for Tax Year 2019 (see IRS Notice 2018-63). Most notably, the limitation on annual salary deferrals into a 401(k) plan will increase from $18,500 to $19,000. The dollar limits are as follows:
| LIMIT | 2018 | 2019 |
| 401(k)/403(b) Elective Deferral Limit (IRC § 402(g))The annual limit on an employee’s elective deferrals to a Section 401(k) or 403(b) plan made through salary reduction. | $18,500 | $19,000 |
| Governmental/Tax Exempt Deferral Limit (IRC § 457(e)(15))The annual limit on an employee’s elective deferrals to Section 457 deferred compensation plans of state and local governments and tax-exempt organizations. | $18,500 | $19,000 |
| 401(k)/403(b)/457 Catch-up Limit (IRC § 414(v)(2)(B)(i))In addition to the regular limit on elective deferrals described above, employees age 50 or over generally can make an additional “catch-up” contribution not to exceed this limit. | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| Defined Contribution Plan Limit (IRC § 415(c))The limitation for annual contributions to a defined contribution plan (such as a 401(k) plan or profit sharing plan). | $55,000 | $56,000 |
| Defined Benefit Plan Limit (IRC § 415(b))The limitation on the annual benefits from a defined benefit plan. | $220,000 | $225,000 |
| Annual Compensation Limit (IRC § 401(a)(17))The maximum amount of compensation that may be taken into account for benefit calculations and nondiscrimination testing. | $275,000 ($405,000 for certain gov’t plans) | $280,000 ($415,000 for certain gov’t plans) |
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Highly Compensated Employee Threshold (IRC § 414(q))The definition of an HCE includes a compensation threshold for the prior year. A retirement plan’s discrimination testing is based on coverage and benefits for HCEs. |
$120,000 (for 2019 HCE determination) |
$125,000 (for 2020 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. | $175,000 | $180,000 |
| SEP Minimum Compensation Limit (IRC § 408(k)(2)(C))The mandatory participation requirements for a simplified employee pension (SEP) includes this minimum compensation threshold. | $600 | $600 |
| SIMPLE Employee Contribution Limit (IRC § 408(p)(2)(E))The limitation on deferrals to a SIMPLE retirement account. | $12,500 | $13,000 |
| SIMPLE Catch-up Limit (IRC § 414(v)(2)(B)(ii)))The maximum amount of catch-up contributions that individuals age 50 or over may make to a SIMPLE retirement account or SIMPLE 401(k) plan. | $3,000 | $3,000 |
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Social Security Taxable Wage BaseSee the 2019 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). |
$128,400 | $132,900 |