Facts registry
What is the 2026 IRS compensation limit for retirement plans?
$360,000
The IRC §401(a)(17) annual compensation limit for TY2026 is $360,000. Source: IRS Notice 2025-67 / COLA increases table ($360,000 for 2026, up from $350,000). Checked against that source on 2026-08-14.
Where it comes from
- Value
- $360,000
- Applies to
- TY2026
- Jurisdiction
- United States, federal
- Last checked
- August 14, 2026
- Registry id
- irs.401a17.comp-limit.2026
A qualified plan may not base contributions or match on compensation above this limit. Added after the Pack 2 adversarial review caught employer-match ignoring it.
Calculations that use it
When one of these runs, the response returns this constant alongside the result, with its source — so a number in an answer traces back to the notice that set it.
Get it programmatically
The whole registry as JSON — every constant with its value, period, primary source, and check date. No key required.
curl https://worthune.com/api/v1/factsQuestions
Common questions
- What is the 2026 IRS compensation limit for retirement plans?
- The IRC §401(a)(17) annual compensation limit for TY2026 is $360,000. Source: IRS Notice 2025-67 / COLA increases table ($360,000 for 2026, up from $350,000). Checked against that source on 2026-08-14.
- Where does this number come from?
- IRS Notice 2025-67 / COLA increases table ($360,000 for 2026, up from $350,000). We record the primary source for every constant our models use, along with the date a person last checked the value against it — in this case 2026-08-14. A figure without a source and a date cannot be told apart from a stale one.
- Which calculations use this figure?
- One Worthune model uses it: employer-match. When one of them runs, the response returns this constant alongside the result, with its source, so the number in an answer can be traced back to the notice that set it.
- How do I get this figure programmatically?
- GET https://worthune.com/api/v1/facts returns the whole registry as JSON — every constant with its value, period, primary source, and check date. No key is required.
Related constants
- 401(k) age-50 catch-up contribution limit — $8,000
- 401(k)/403(b) employee elective deferral limit — $24,500
- IRC §415(c) overall defined-contribution limit — $72,000
- ACA applicable percentage, top of the table (300–400% FPL), TY2026 — 9.96%
- ACA applicable percentage, bottom of the table (< 133% FPL), TY2026 — 2.1%
- AMT 28%-rate breakpoint, excess taxable income (§55(b)(1)) — $244,500
We maintain this registry against its primary sources on a best-efforts basis and version every change publicly. It is reference information, not tax or financial advice — verify against the primary source before relying on a figure. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Tell us at support@worthune.com.