The IRS recently announced the cost-of-living adjustments to the applicable dollar limits for various employer-sponsored retirement and welfare plans for 2020. Nearly all of the dollar limits currently in effect for 2019 will experience minor increases for 2020.
Recently the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration announced the cost-of-living adjustments to the applicable dollar limits on various employer-sponsored retirement and welfare plans and the Social Security wage base for 2020. The table below compares the applicable dollar limits for certain employee benefit programs and the Social Security wage base for 2019 and 2020.1
| RETIREMENT PLAN LIMITS | 2019 | 2020 |
| Annual compensation limit | $280,000 | $285,000 |
| 401(k), 403(b) & 457(b) before-tax contributions | $19,000 | $19,500 |
| Catch-up contributions (if age 50 or older) | $6,000 | $6,500 |
| Highly compensated employee threshold | $125,000 | $130,000 |
| Key employee officer compensation threshold | $180,000 | $185,000 |
| Defined benefit plan annual benefit and accrual limit | $225,000 | $230,000 |
| Defined contribution plan annual contribution limit | $56,000 | $57,000 |
| Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) limit for determining the lengthening of the general five-year distribution period | $225,000 | $230,000 |
| ESOP limit for determining the maximum account balance subject to the general five-year distribution period | $1,130,000 | $1,150,000 |
| HEALTH AND WELFARE PLAN LIMITS | ||
| Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) | ||
| Maximum salary reduction limit | $2,700 | $2,750 |
| High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) | ||
| HDHP – Maximum annual out-of-pocket limit (excluding premiums): | ||
| Self-only coverage | $6,750 | $6,900 |
| Family coverage | $13,500 | $13,800 |
| HDHP – Minimum annual deductible: | ||
| Self-only coverage | $1,350 | $1,400 |
| Family coverage | $2,700 | $2,800 |
| HSA – Annual contribution limit: | ||
| Self-only coverage | $3,500 | $3,550 |
| Family coverage | $7,000 | $7,100 |
| Catch-up contributions (age 55 or older) | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| SOCIAL SECURITY WAGE BASE | ||
| Social Security Maximum Taxable Earnings (dollars) | $132,900 | $137,700 |
For guidance, please click the links below:
Plan sponsors should update payroll and plan administration systems for the 2020 cost-of-living adjustments and should incorporate the new limits in relevant participant communications, like open enrollment materials and summary plan descriptions.
Footnotes
1. The dollar limits are generally applied on a calendar year basis; however, certain dollar limits are applied on a plan-year, tax-year or limitation-year basis.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
