2018 Cost-of-Living Adjustments on IRS Benefit and Contribution Limits
Friday, October 20, 2017

On October 19, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the cost-of-living adjustments impacting tax-qualified pension plans for 2018. The increase in the cost-of-living index met the statutory thresholds that triggered adjustments in some of the general pension limitations, including the limit on annual compensation and the individual limit on elective deferrals. However, the individual limit on catch-up contributions will not change for 2018. The following table highlights some of the key limits that will continue to affect tax-qualified pension plans, including those that will increase for 2018:

Internal Revenue Code Section

2017

2018

401(a)(17) / 404(l)
Annual Compensation

$270,000

$275,000

402(g)(1)
Elective Deferrals

$18,000

$18,500

414(v)(2)(B)(i)
Catch-up Contributions

$6,000

$6,000

415(b)(1)(A)
Defined Benefit Plan Limits

$215,000

$220,000

415(c)(1)(A)
Defined Contribution Plan Limits

$54,000

$55,000

457(e)(15)
Deferral Limit

$18,000

$18,500

414(q)(1)(B)
Highly Compensated Employee Threshold

$120,000

$120,000

409(o)(1)(C)
ESOP Limits

$1,080,000
$215,000

$1,105,000
$220,000

416(i)(1)(A)(i)
Key Employee

$175,000

$175,000

408(p)(2)(E)
SIMPLE Maximum – Contributions

$12,500

$12,500

414(v)(2)(B)(ii)
SIMPLE Catch-up Contributions

$3,000

$3,000

408(k)(2)(C)
SEP Minimum – Compensation

$600

$600

408(k)(3)(C)
SEP Maximum – Compensation

$270,000

$275,000

1.61-21(f)(5)(i)
Control Employee

$105,000

$110,000

1.61-21(f)(5)(iii)
Control Employee

$215,000

$220,000

Social Security Taxable Wage Base

$127,200

$128,700

The complete IRS table of cost-of-living adjustments for retirement items can be found on the IRS’s website. 

Tracy Mounts contributed to this article.

 

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