Learning Center
We keep you up to date on the latest tax changes and news in the industry.

Boost Your Retirement Savings: Leveraging Catch-Up Contributions for Those Aged 50+

As individuals edge closer to retirement, many seek effective strategies to bolster their savings and ensure a secure financial future. A critical, often overlooked opportunity lies in the "catch-up" contributions available through various retirement plans. This guide delves into the nuances of these plans, illuminating key avenues for older taxpayers eager to enhance their retirement portfolio.

Image 1

Streamlined Employee Pension: SEP IRAs

SEP IRAs offer a seamless, tax-efficient pathway for self-employed professionals and small business owners to build retirement wealth. Contributions to SEP IRAs are not only tax-deductible but also enjoy tax-deferred growth, fostering sustainable savings over time.

While SEP IRAs don't provide specific catch-up contributions for older workers, their high contribution ceilings serve as a significant advantage. For 2025, the contribution limit peaks at the lesser of 25% of the employee's income or $70,000, allowing participants to significantly augment their retirement funds as retirement approaches.

SIMPLE Savings Incentive: SIMPLE IRAs and 401(k)s

For 2025, SIMPLE IRAs and SIMPLE 401(k) plans feature an elective contribution cap of $16,500, with an added catch-up provision of $3,500 for those aged 50 and above, summing to a total of $19,000. This age-centric provision is indispensable for those on the cusp of retirement, seeking higher savings.

The Secure 2.0 Act grants a special provision for contributors aged 60, 61, 62, or 63, boosting the catch-up ceiling to the larger of $5,000 or 50% more than the normal amount, amounting to $5,250 for 2025. After 2025, these limits will adjust with inflation. Eligibility is based on age at the year's end, simplifying the decision-making for those contemplating catch-up contributions.

Image 2

Mandatory Employer Contributions - Within SIMPLE plans, employers must choose between the following contributions:

  • Matching Contribution: Provides a dollar-to-dollar match up to 3% of the employee's salary, encouraging maximum participation.

  • Non-Elective Contribution: Allocates 2% of the employee's salary regardless of their personal contribution, ensuring a baseline retirement boost.

Deferred Income Arrangements: 401(k) Plans

Through cash or deferred arrangements—popularly the 401(k)—employees can defer a specified segment of their salary every year. Adjusted for inflation annually, the cap for 2025 is established at $23,500. Those aged 50 or more can benefit from an extra $7,500 catch-up, raising the total to $31,000.

The Secure 2.0 Act also extends enhanced limits for contributors aged between 60 and 63, elevating the catch-up amount to $11,250, which translates to a total allowance of $34,750 for 2025.

Tax Sheltered Annuity: 403(b) TSA

For individuals with 403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity accounts, catch-up contributions can dramatically impact retirement savings potential. Primarily targeting public school employees and select non-profits, these plans permit inflation-adjusted contributions up to $23,500 for 2025.

Beyond the standard $7,500 catch-up contribution for those over 50, the unique “15-Year Rule” allows seasoned employees additional contributions, capped at $3,000 annually, under specific lifetime parameters. This provision is particularly beneficial for long-serving education sector professionals.

Adhering to Secure 2.0 Act stipulations, participants aged 60 through 63 can avail of increased catch-up allowances, raising the 2025 cap to $34,750.

Image 3

Additional Strategies to Empower Retirement Savings

  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): These accounts provide triple tax perks: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses. Upon reaching age 65, withdrawals for non-medical purposes remain penalty-free but taxable, offering flexibility akin to traditional IRAs.

  • Roth IRA Contributions: Roth IRAs, distinguished by their lack of required minimum distributions, empower funds to grow tax-free indefinitely, offering lucrative bequeathment options.

  • Contributions Without Age Limitations: The SECURE Act enables individuals 70½ and older to contribute to traditional IRAs provided they have active income sources, helping diminish the impact of required distributions.

Strategically maximizing retirement contributions demands keen tax insight. Reach out to our office for informed, customized strategies to maximize your financial readiness for retirement.

Share this article...

Want tax & accounting tips and insights?

Sign up for our newsletter.

I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .

Social Media

Location

2100 Westshore Drive
Cumming, Georgia 30041
Get Balanced CPA We love Chat!
Please feel free to use our Ai powered chat assistant or click on the Contact button below to contact us.
Please fill out the form and our team will get back to you shortly The form was sent successfully