IRS: You Can Contribute More to Retirement Starting in 2023

In October 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced contribution limitation adjustments for employee retirement plans in response to inflation.

The IRS issued Notice 2022-55, which describes cost-of-living adjustments for retirement and pension plans. The changes are effective January 1, 2023.

Increases to Contribution Limits for Retirement Plans in the New Year

Beginning in 2023, workers’ maximum allowed contributions to 401(k), 403(b), 457 plans or, for federal employees, the Thrift Savings Plan will increase to $22,500 from $20,500.

The catch-up contribution limit for employees 50 years and older will increase to $7,500 from $6,500. So, if you are working and are aged 50 or older, you can contribute up to $30,000 ($22,500 + $7,500 = $30,000) to these types of retirement accounts in 2023 in addition to your employer’s contributions.

Employees with individual retirement arrangement (IRA) accounts may contribute up to $6,500 in 2023. The annual cost-of-living adjustment will not apply to the IRA catch-up contribution limit for workers 50 years or older; their limit remains $1,000.

The catch-up contribution limit for SIMPLE plans increases to $3,500 from $3,000 for workers aged 50 and older in 2023.

Phase-Out Ranges

Your annual income level also affects how much you can contribute to certain types of investment accounts. The IRS, which outlines these “phase-out” ranges, announced several changes to the phase-out ranges for traditional and Roth IRAs.

In 2023, if a taxpayer or their spouse has a workplace retirement plan, an IRA contribution can be reduced until it reaches $0. Again, applicability depends on income.

Traditional IRA 2023 Phase-Out Ranges
 

• For married taxpayers filing jointly if the contributing spouse has a workplace retirement plan: Between $116,000 and $136,000 (up from $109,000 to $129,000).
• For single taxpayers with a workplace retirement plan: $73,000 to $83,000; this is an increase from $68,000 to $78,000.
• For someone with an IRA not through their workplace and who is married to someone covered by a workplace retirement plan: $218,000 to $228,000, an increase from the 2022 range of $204,000 to $214,000.
• For a married individual filing separately who is covered by a workplace retirement plan: The yearly cost-of-living adjustment for phase-out ranges does not apply. The phase-out range remains $0 to $10,000.

Roth IRA Phase-Out Ranges for 2023
 

• For married taxpayers filing jointly: $218,000 to $228,000, which is an increase from the 2022 range of $204,000 to $214,000.
• For single taxpayers: $138,000 to $153,000; this is up from $129,000 to $140,000 in 2022.
• For married person filing separately: The yearly cost-of-living adjustment for phase-out ranges does not apply to a married person filing separately. The phase-out range remains between $0 and $10,000.

The IRS also announced changes to the qualifying income limit for the Saver’s Credit. The following are the new income limits that will apply starting in 2023:

• Married couples filing jointly can earn up to $73,000, an increase from $68,000.
• Heads of household can earn up to $54,750, up from $51,000.
• Singles and married people filing separately can earn up to $36,500, an increase from $34,000.

Further Government Efforts to Increase Retirement Savings

More retirement protections in response to inflation may be coming. In March 2022, the House of Representatives passed the SECURE Act 2.0. If Congress passes this bill, workers 50 and up will have more opportunities to increase their retirement savings.