401(k) Super Catch-Up 2026: Extra $11,250 at Ages 60–63

If you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 in 2026, the IRS gives you a bigger 401(k) catch-up than everyone else your age: $11,250 instead of $8,000. With the standard $24,500 limit, you can put up to $35,750 of your own pay into a 401(k) this year — before any employer match. This is the SECURE 2.0 "super catch-up," and it only lasts for those four birthdays. Here is how it works.

Last updated: 31 October 2026. All figures are for the 2026 calendar year (1 January – 31 December 2026) unless stated otherwise.

What Is the 401(k) Super Catch-Up?

Catch-up contributions let workers aged 50 and older save more than the standard 401(k) limit, because retirement is close and the saving window is short. The SECURE 2.0 Act, signed in December 2022, added a second, larger tier: for the four years when you are 60, 61, 62 or 63, the catch-up is bigger. It has been available since 1 January 2025, and the IRS confirmed in Notice 2025-67 that it stays at $11,250 for 2026.

The point that trips people up: the super catch-up replaces the regular catch-up — it is not added on top. A 61-year-old in 2026 can defer $24,500 plus $11,250, which is $35,750 — not $24,500 plus $8,000 plus $11,250. The same rule applies to 403(b) plans, most governmental 457(b) plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). One condition: your plan has to offer catch-up contributions — most large plans do, but some smaller ones have not added the super catch-up yet, so check first.

The 2026 Numbers at a Glance

Your age in 2026	Base deferral	Catch-up	Your maximum
Under 50	$24,500	—	$24,500
50 – 59	$24,500	$8,000	$32,500
60 – 63	$24,500	$11,250	$35,750
64 and older	$24,500	$8,000	$32,500

The window is just four years: the year you turn 64, you go back to the standard $8,000 catch-up and your maximum drops to $32,500. Your employer match sits on top — the combined employee-plus-employer limit for 2026 is $72,000, and catch-ups do not count toward it, so with the super catch-up the combined ceiling is effectively $83,250. For comparison, the IRA limit for 2026 is $7,500, with a $1,100 catch-up at age 50 and over.

Who Qualifies for the Super Catch-Up?

The test is simple: do you reach age 60, 61, 62 or 63 at any point during 2026? If you turn 60 on 20 December 2026, you are eligible for the full $11,250 for all of 2026 — you do not have to wait until your birthday, and the amount is not prorated. If you turn 64 in 2026, the window has already closed.

There is no income test for the super catch-up itself — it is available at any salary, as long as your plan offers it. What changes with income is how the catch-up is taxed, covered below. You need not have contributed all year: join a new employer in September at 62 and you can still use the full $11,250, as long as your remaining paychecks can carry it. And the limits are shared across all 401(k), 403(b) and TSP accounts you hold — two jobs do not give you two limits.

Worked Example: Linda, 61, Earns $95,000

Linda turns 61 in March 2026 and earns $95,000 a year. Her maximum employee deferral is $24,500 + $11,250 = $35,750 — about 37.6% of her salary, or $1,375 per paycheck if she is paid every two weeks. Compared with the standard $8,000 catch-up, the super catch-up gives her an extra $3,250 this year — and $13,000 extra across all four years from 60 to 63.

Her employer matches 4% of pay, or $3,800 a year. The match does not use up any of her $35,750 — it is added on top, bringing her total to $39,550, well inside the $83,250 combined ceiling. If $35,750 is more than her budget allows, even raising her contribution by the extra $3,250 alone — about $125 per biweekly paycheck — still uses the part of the window that only exists at her age.

The Roth Catch-Up Rule for High Earners in 2026

There is one big change in 2026. Under SECURE 2.0 §603, if you earned more than $150,000 in FICA wages from your employer in 2025, your catch-up contributions in 2026 — whether the standard $8,000 or the super $11,250 — must go into a Roth 401(k) instead of a traditional pre-tax account. The IRS issued final regulations on this rule in September 2025, and it applies from 1 January 2026.

Roth contributions are made with after-tax dollars: you pay tax on the money now, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free, including all the growth. For a high earner in the 60–63 window, the $11,250 catch-up still goes in — it just goes in as Roth. If your plan has no Roth option, your employer must add one or your catch-up may not be available — check early, not in December. The $150,000 test uses wages from the plan's employer only, not household income, and it is based on the prior year: your 2025 wages decide 2026.

What the Extra $3,250 a Year Could Be Worth

The super catch-up is worth $3,250 a year more than the standard catch-up — $13,000 of extra contributions over the four-year window. Invested at an illustrative 5% annual return, those four extra $3,250 contributions would grow to roughly $14,000 by the end of the fourth year. That is only the extra part: the full $11,250 catch-up each year totals $45,000 across the four years, versus $32,000 under the standard catch-up.

These are illustrations, not promises — investment returns are never guaranteed, and your actual result depends on what you invest in and how markets perform. But it shows why the window matters: it is the only time the IRS lets you defer $35,750 a year, and it closes for good at 64. In a high bracket now with a lower one expected in retirement, pre-tax is usually attractive; if your rate may rise, Roth may suit you better. Our US tax brackets guide explains how to work out which bracket you are in.

Five Mistakes to Avoid

• Adding the catch-ups together. The super catch-up replaces the standard $8,000 — it is $11,250 total catch-up, not $19,250.
• Assuming your plan offers it. Some plans have not yet added the super catch-up. Confirm with HR or your plan administrator, in writing, before raising your rate.
• Waiting until December. A $35,750 deferral needs most of the year's paychecks to fit. Set the rate in January, not October.
• Forgetting the Roth rule. If your 2025 FICA wages were over $150,000, your catch-up must be Roth in 2026 — a pre-tax election may be rejected.
• Skipping the match to chase the max. Always contribute at least enough to get the full employer match first. Then raise your rate toward $35,750.

How to Set It Up in Your Plan

Log in to your 401(k) portal or call your plan administrator and ask two questions: does the plan offer the age 60–63 super catch-up, and does it offer a Roth option? Then set your contribution rate. To hit $35,750 on a $95,000 salary paid biweekly is about 37.6% of pay — but you need not max it out; any amount above the $32,500 ceiling still uses part of the window. If your pay rises mid-year, the dollar limit is fixed, so a percentage election may need adjusting.

If payroll over-contributed, the excess must be removed by 15 April 2027 or it is taxed twice — once when contributed and again when withdrawn. If you change jobs mid-year, tell the new plan how much you already deferred, so the two together do not exceed $35,750. Our 2026 401(k) contribution limits guide has the full table of limits by age, and if you are weighing a Roth IRA alongside your 401(k), see Roth IRA vs 401(k): which to max out first.

Super Catch-Up or Roth IRA First?

If you are 60 to 63 and can only fund one account, the 401(k) super catch-up usually comes first: the limit is far larger ($35,750 versus $8,600 for an IRA with catch-up in 2026), and the employer match only exists inside the 401(k). A Roth IRA still has a role — more investment choice and no required minimum distributions — but the four-year window closes at 64, while IRA contributions stay available. Use the window first, then top up the IRA.

The bottom line: if you turn 60 to 63 in 2026, you have four years to defer up to $35,750 a year — $3,250 a year more than anyone a year younger or older. Confirm your plan offers it, set your rate early, and check whether the Roth rule applies to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I contribute to my 401(k) at age 61 in 2026?

Up to $35,750 of your own pay — the $24,500 standard limit plus the $11,250 super catch-up for ages 60 to 63. Any employer match is added on top, up to a combined $83,250 ceiling.

Is the super catch-up on top of the regular catch-up?

No. The $11,250 super catch-up replaces the standard $8,000 catch-up for ages 60 to 63. It is not $8,000 plus $11,250 — the total catch-up is $11,250, giving a $35,750 maximum deferral.

What happens to my 401(k) limit when I turn 64?

You go back to the standard $8,000 catch-up, so your maximum deferral drops from $35,750 to $32,500. The super catch-up only applies in the years you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63.

Do I have to put my catch-up contributions in Roth if I earn over $150,000?

Yes, from 2026. If your 2025 FICA wages from your employer were over $150,000, your catch-up contributions — standard or super — must be designated as Roth. If your plan has no Roth option, ask your employer to add one.

Does my employer have to offer the super catch-up?

No. The law permits the higher catch-up, but your plan must adopt it. Most large plans have, but some smaller plans have not yet. Ask your plan administrator or HR department to confirm it is available before you raise your contribution rate.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. 401(k) limits are those in force for 2026, checked 31 October 2026 against IRS Notice 2025-67 and SECURE 2.0, and can change. Investment values can fall as well as rise; you may get back less than you invest. Consider consulting a fiduciary advisor before making retirement decisions. Last updated: 31 October 2026.