Annual Review · January 8, 2026 · 1 min read
The 2026 numbers every household should know
Contribution limits, catch-up rules, Social Security and Medicare figures — the annual reference we hand clients, in one page.
Once a year the numbers reset, and once a year almost everyone forgets to update their contributions to match. This is the reference sheet we walk through with clients every January.
[Figures below to be confirmed against final IRS and SSA releases before publication.]
Retirement contributions
- 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans — employee deferral limit, plus the age-50 catch-up, plus the enhanced catch-up for ages 60–63
- IRA and Roth IRA — annual limit and catch-up
- Roth IRA income phase-outs — the range where your ability to contribute directly starts to disappear
- HSA — self-only and family limits, plus the age-55 catch-up
The single highest-value thing on this list: if you're between 60 and 63, the enhanced catch-up is significantly larger than the standard one. Very few people know it exists, and it is available for a four-year window only.
Social Security
- Cost-of-living adjustment for the year
- The taxable earnings cap
- The earnings test limits if you claim before full retirement age and keep working
Medicare
- Part B standard premium and the IRMAA income brackets
- Part A and Part B deductibles
IRMAA deserves a note: it's based on your income from two years prior, so a one-time spike — selling a property, a Roth conversion, a business sale — can raise your Medicare premiums two years later. That's a planning problem you solve in advance or not at all.
The annual review checklist
- Update your contribution rate to hit the new limit across the whole year
- Re-check beneficiary designations on every account and policy
- Confirm your coverage still matches your obligations — mortgage, income, dependents
- Revisit your withdrawal order if you're in or near retirement
Figures are published annually by the IRS and Social Security Administration and are subject to change. This is educational and not individualized tax advice.
This article is educational and is not individualized financial, tax, or legal advice. Please speak with a licensed professional about your own situation.
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