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2026 IRS limits

Retirement Account Comparisons

Every major retirement account compared side by side — contribution limits, tax treatment, income restrictions, withdrawal rules, and who each account is best suited for.

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Head-to-Head

Most common comparisons

The questions people ask most when deciding where to save for retirement.

Most searched
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Pre-tax vs after-tax — the most common retirement dilemma. Which account wins depends entirely on whether you expect to pay more tax now or in retirement.

Tax treatment Contribution limits Employer match Income limits Withdrawal rules
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Same $7,500 contribution limit, but completely different tax logic. One gives you a deduction today; the other gives you tax-free income in retirement.

Tax deduction Income phase-out RMD rules Backdoor Roth 5-year rule
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Should you max your 401(k) or contribute to a Traditional IRA first? The answer usually comes down to employer match and investment options.

Contribution limits Investment choice Employer match Deductibility
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Many employers now offer both. Same contribution limit, employer match, and investment options — the only difference is when you pay the tax.

Pre-tax vs after-tax Same limit RMD 2024 change Employer match
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Self-Employed

Solo retirement accounts

If you're self-employed, a freelancer, or own a small business, these comparisons matter most.

Self-employed
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Both let you save far more than a regular IRA. But at many income levels, a Solo 401(k) lets you shelter significantly more — especially if your income is under $200k.

$72,000 limit Net SE income Employee + employer Roth option Admin complexity
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For small business owners with employees. SEP IRA is employer-only contributions; SIMPLE IRA allows employees to contribute too, with required employer matching.

Employees Mandatory match Setup cost Contribution limits
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Solo 401(k) is strictly for owner-only businesses with no employees. SIMPLE IRA works for businesses up to 100 employees and is much simpler to administer.

No employees Loan provisions $17,000 vs $24,500
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Healthcare Savings

HSA & FSA comparisons

Both save on healthcare costs, but the rules are very different.

Most popular
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HSA funds roll over forever and can be invested for retirement. FSA is use-it-or-lose-it each year. The catch: HSA requires a High Deductible Health Plan.

Rollover rules HDHP requirement Investment option Employer eligibility Triple tax advantage
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Surprisingly, an HSA beats a 401(k) for retirement savings if you're healthy — it's the only account with a triple tax advantage. But you need an HDHP to qualify.

Triple tax benefit Healthcare first Age 65 flexibility Contribution priority
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Workplace Plans

Employer-sponsored plan comparisons

Different jobs offer different plans — here's how they stack up.

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403(b) is the non-profit and education sector's version of a 401(k). Limits are identical, but 403(b) has a unique 15-year service catch-up rule most people don't know about.

Same limits 15-year catch-up Investment options Non-profit / education
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457(b) is for state and local government employees. The big advantage: you can contribute to both a 457(b) and a 403(b) simultaneously, doubling your tax-deferred savings.

Government workers Double contribution No early withdrawal penalty Separation rule
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All Retirement Accounts — Full Comparison Table

Every account in one place. Contribution limits, tax type, income limits, employer match, RMD rules, and early withdrawal penalties — all in a single scrollable table.

View full comparison table →

Quick Reference

2026 Contribution Limits at a Glance

Key numbers for every major retirement account. All figures from IRS Notice 2025-67.

Account Who it's for 2026 Limit Catch-up (50+) Tax type Income limit Employer match RMD
401(k) Employees w/ workplace plan $24,500 +$8,000 Pre-tax or Roth None ✓ Yes Age 73
403(b) Non-profit / education $24,500 +$8,000 Pre-tax or Roth None ✓ Yes Age 73
457(b) Government employees $24,500 +$8,000 Pre-tax or Roth None Varies Age 73
Traditional IRA Anyone with earned income $7,500 +$1,100 Pre-tax (if deductible) Phase-out ✗ No Age 73
Roth IRA Under income limit $7,500 +$1,100 After-tax Phase-out ✗ No None ✓
SEP IRA Self-employed / small biz $72,000 None Pre-tax None ✗ No Age 73
SIMPLE IRA Small business ≤100 employees $17,000 +$4,000 Pre-tax None ✓ Required Age 73
HSA HDHP enrollees $4,400 / $8,750 +$1,000 (age 55) Pre-tax + tax-free None Optional None ✓
FSA Most employees $3,400 None Pre-tax None Optional N/A ✓

* 401(k) catch-up age 60–63: $11,250 (super catch-up under SECURE 2.0). Traditional IRA phase-out for single filers with workplace plan: $81,000–$91,000. Roth IRA income phase-out single: $153,000–$168,000.