Retirement Plan Limits
Table
2012
2011
2010
2009
401k / 403b deferrals (under age 50)
17,000
16,500
16,500
16,500
401k / 403b deferrals (includes age 50+ $5,500 401k catchup)
22,500
22,000
22,000
22,000
Annual addition, defined contribution (under age 50)
50,000
49,000
49,000
49,000
Annual addition, defined contribution
(includes age 50+ $5,500 401(k) catchup)
55,500
54,500
54,500
54,500
Age 50 “Catch-up” 401(k) deferral (included above)
5,500
5,500
5,500
5,500
Maximum considered compensation, defined contribution
250,000
245,000
245,000
245,000
Highly Compensated Employee (determined in prior year)
115,000
110,000
110,000
110,000
Key Employee, Officer
165,000
160,000
160,000
160,000
Social Security Taxable Wage Base
110,100
106,800
106,800
106,800
Defined Benefit limit, annual benefit limit
200,000
195,000
195,000
195,000
 
IRA (under age 50)
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
IRA (with age 50+ $1,000 catchup)
6,000
6,000
6,000
6,000
SIMPLE deferral (under age 50)
11,500
11,500
11,500
11,500
SIMPLE deferral (with age 50+$2,500 catchup)
14,000
14,000
14,000
14,000
 

Definitions

Annual addition:
Maximum annual contribution to a defined contribution plan (ie. 401(k) or profit sharing. Also limited to 100% of gross pay.

Age 50 401(k) catchup:
is an additional 401(k) deferral that must be withheld from pay for those age 50 at any time during the year.

Maximum considered compensation:
is the maximum amount that may be considered as gross pay for all qualified plan purposes, such as figuring profit sharing/matching amounts and testing. All gross pay over this limit is ignored.

Highly Compensated Employee:
look back at gross pay for the previous plan year determines status for current year. Used to determine status for non-discrimination testing. Also includes any 5% owner.

Key Employee Officer:
Using current year income is used to determine if an officer is a key employee. Used to determined status for non-discrimination testing. Also includes 1% and 5% owers.

Social Security Taxable Wage Base:
is the amount of gross pay used to calculate payroll taxes for old age social security. Any pay over this amount is ignored but still pays medicare.

Defined Benefit Limit:
The determines the maximum annual payout to a retiree receiving benefits. It is not the maximum annual contribution but is used to figure the contribution.

 

 
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