Does employer 401k match count towards the annual limit?
Wanting to take advantage of a max contribution to a 401k? Do you know if your employer’s 401k match counts towards the maximum limit? The answer is yes, but does it count as a contribution from the individual, or does it count as an employer contribution? These two factors can make a huge difference.
Read on to learn more about does your employer’s 401k match counts towards the maximum limit and how this impacts retirement savings.
401(k) Contribution Limits Overview
- Individuals can contribute up to $19,500 to a 401(k) in 2021 and $20,500 in 2022, or $26,000 if they are age 50 or over in 2021 and $27,000 in 2022.
- An employer match to an employee’s 401(k) does not count toward the employee’s annual contribution limit.
- There is a maximum amount that an employee and employer together can contribute to a 401(k). The same restrictions apply to 403(b), 457 plans, and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
2021 and 2022 Contribution Limits
If you’re an employee, in 2021, you may contribute up to $19,500 of your own money to a 401(k) and $26,000 if you’re 50 or older. If you’re an employee, in 2022, you may contribute up to $20,500 of your own money to a 401(k) and $27,000 if you’re 50 or older.
These are the 2021 and 2022 limits for specific retirement plans, including 401(k), 403(b), 457, and a Thrift Savings Plan.
The limit on total contributions from both the employee and employer can’t exceed the lesser of 100% of the employee’s salary or $61,000 for employees younger than age 50 and $67,500 for those age 50 or older.
How 401(k) Plan Contribution Limits Work
The 401(k) plan is a long-term savings plan designed to help people build their retirement savings. The IRS labels a 401(k) as a “qualified retirement plan,” which means it has certain tax benefits for the employee, the employer, or both.
The tax advantage for employees is that their contributions are deducted from gross income, not net income. That means less take-home pay which makes the employee’s taxes lower and the money goes into an investment account on an ongoing basis.
For some 401(k) plans, employers can match some percentage of their employees’ contributions, but it’s strictly voluntary. The average 401(k) match ranges from 3% to 7% of the employee’s gross salary.
Alternatives To An Employer 401(k) Match
Deferred annuities can offer premium bonuses on contributions that mimic an employer’s 401(k) match with no annual limits.
For example, an annuity may offer a bonus of up to 11% on all contributions for the first seven years of the annuity. The 11 percent premium bonus mimics the employer’s match, and there are no annual contribution limits for the employee.
Unlike a 401(k), employees can open a deferred annuity without an employer.
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