IRS Announces 2018 Retirement Plan Limitations - Certain Limits are Increased

Locke Lord LLP
Contact

Locke Lord LLP

The Internal Revenue Service announced the 2018 cost-of-living adjustments to the dollar limitations for qualified retirement plans and other benefits, and the Social Security Administration announced its own cost-of-living adjustments for 2018. The elective deferral contribution limit for 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans will increase to $18,500 but the dollar limit for catch-up contributions (if age 50 or older) remains unchanged at $6,000. Other limits, such as the annual compensation limit under 401(a)(17), the limit used in the definition of key employee and the maximum annual contribution limit under Code Section 415, will increase in 2018.

RETIREMENT PLAN LIMITS AND SOCIAL SECURITY WAGE BAS

 

2018 Limits

2017 Limits

401(k)/403(b)/457(b) Elective Deferrals

$18,500

$18,000

Catch-Up Contribution (plans other than SIMPLE plans)

$6,000

$6,000

SIMPLE Plan Employee Deferrals

$12,500

$12,500

SIMPLE Plan Catch-Up Contributions

$3,000

$3,000

Plan Maximum Annual Contribution – Defined Contribution Plans (Section 415(c))

$55,000

$54,000

Maximum Annual Benefit – Defined Benefit Plans (Section 415(b))

$220,000

$215,000

Compensation Limit under Section 401(a)(17)

$275,000

$270,000

Highly Compensated Employee Definition under Section 414(q)

$120,000

$120,000

Key Employees Officer Compensation for Top-Heavy Plans

$175,000

$170,000

ESOP limit for determining the maximum account balance subject to the 5-year distribution limit

$1,105,000

$1,080,000

ESOP dollar amount used for determining the lengthening of the 5-year distribution period

$220,000

$215,000

Social Security (FICA) Wage Base

$128,700

$127,200

HEALTH AND WELFARE PLAN LIMITS

Health Flexible Spending Accounts

 

2018 Limits

2017 Limits

Maximum Salary reduction limit

$2,650

$2,600

Health Savings Account and High Deductible Health Plan Limits
Earlier this year, the IRS announced the inflation-adjusted amounts for health savings account and high-deductible health plans for 2018. The HSA limit for self-only/family coverage will increase to $3,450 and $6,900, respectively for 2018. The minimum annual deductible and maximum annual out-of-pocket expense limits for high deductible health plans for both self-only and family coverage will increase in 2018. 

Health Savings Accounts/HDHP Limits

 

2018 Limits

2017 Limits

HSA Contribution -- Annual Contribution Limit

   

Self-Only Coverage

$3,450

$3,400

Family Coverage

$6,900

$6,750

Catch-Up Contributions (age 55 or older)

$1,000

$1,000

High Deductible Health Plan – Minimum Annual Deductible

   

Self-Only Coverage

$1,350

$1,300

Family Coverage

$2,700

$2,600

High Deductible Health Plan – Maximum Out of Pocket Limit

   

Self-Only Coverage

$6,650

$6,550

Family Coverage

$13,300

$13,100

2017 Limits  2016 Limits 401(k)/403(b)/457(b) Elective Deferrals  $18,000 $18,000Catch-Up Contribution (plans other than SIMPLE plans) $6,000 $6,000SIMPLE Plan Employee Deferrals $12,500 $12,500SIMPLE Plan Catch-Up Contributions $3,000 $3,000Plan Maximum Annual Contribution – Defined
Contribution Plans (Section 415(c)) $54,000 $53,000Maximum Annual Benefit – Defined Benefit
Plans (Section 415(b)) $215,000 $210,000Compensation Limit under Section 401(a)(17)  $270,000 $265,000Highly Compensated Employee Definition under Section 414(q) $120,000 $120,000Key Employees Officer Compensation for Top-Heavy Plans
 $175,000 $170,000Maximum ESOP Account Balance Subject to 5-Year Distribution Period  $1,080,000 $1,070,000Social Security (FICA) Wage Base  $127,200 $118,500

 2018 Limits  2017 Limits
401(k)/403(b)/457(b) Elective Deferrals  $18,500  $18,000
Catch-Up Contribution (plans other than SIMPLE plans)  $6,000  $6,000
SIMPLE Plan Employee Deferrals  $12,500  $12,500

 

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

© Locke Lord LLP | Attorney Advertising

Written by:

Locke Lord LLP
Contact
more
less

Locke Lord LLP on:

Reporters on Deadline

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
Custom Email Digest
- hide
- hide