IRS Announces 2020 Retirement Plan and Other Benefit Limitations

November 8, 2019

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced the dollar limitations for retirement plans and other benefits, beginning January 1, 2020. Some of the limits are listed below. 

LIMITATION
 
2019 AMOUNT 2020 AMOUNT
Maximum Annual Compensation taken into account for determining benefits or contributions to a qualified plan
 
$280,000 $285,000
Basic Elective Deferral Limitation for 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) Plans1
 
 $19,000 $19,500
Catch-up Contribution Limit for Persons Age 50 and older in 401(k), 403(b) or SARSEP Plans
 
$6,000 $6,500
Limitation on Annual Additions to a Defined Contribution Plan2
 
$56,000 $57,000
Limitation on Annual Benefits from a Defined Benefit Plan3
 
$225,000 $230,000
Highly Compensated Employee Compensation Threshold4
 
$125,000 $130,000
SEP Compensation Threshold
 
$600 $600
Social Security Taxable Wage Base for Social Security Tax (6.2%)  $132,900 $137,700
For Medicare Tax (1.45% / 2.35%)
 
No Limit No Limit
Health Savings Accounts: 
        • Individual Contribution Limit
        • Family Contribution Limit
        • Catch-Up Contributions

$3,500
$7,000
$1,000

$3,550
$7,100
$1,000
Health Flexible Spending Accounts5 $2,700 $2,750



 

If you have any questions about this memorandum, please contact any member of our Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group listed below.
 

Albany: (518) 533-3000
Stephen C. Daley   sdaley@bsk.com

Buffalo: (716) 566-2800
John C. Godsoe    jgodsoe@bsk.com
Robert W. Patterson    rpatterson@bsk.com

Long Island: (516) 267-6300
Terry O’Neil    toneil@bsk.com

New York City: (646) 253-2300
Michael P. Collins    mcollins@bsk.com

Rochester: (585) 362-4700
John C. Godsoe    jgodsoe@bsk.com

Syracuse: (315) 218-8000
Stephen C. Daley   sdaley@bsk.com
Brian K. Haynes   bhaynes@bsk.com
Daniel J. Nugent    dnugent@bsk.com
Aaron M. Pierce   apierce@bsk.com

 

 

 








 

Click here to visit Bond’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice web page.


1  This limit and the catch-up limit also apply to Roth (after-tax) contributions under 401(k) and 403(b) plans that permit such contributions.
2  In no event may annual additions exceed 100% of a participant’s compensation.
3  In no event may a participant’s annual benefit exceed 100% of the participant’s average compensation for the participant’s high three years.
4  Generally, an employee is considered “highly compensated” if the employee:
        (a) was a five-percent owner of the employer at any time during the current or preceding year; or 
        (b) received compensation from the employer in the preceding year of more than the applicable dollar limit for that year.
5  This limit applies only to voluntary employee salary reduction (pre-tax) contributions.