First Year of Catch-Up Contributions at 52
Workers in their early 50s who are newly eligible for catch-up contributions should start taking full advantage of the higher limits immediately.
How to use this tool
- Select your retirement plan type.
- Enter your age — catch-up eligibility starts the year you turn 50.
- Read your total limit, base limit, and catch-up amount.
- Use the figure to set your payroll deferral for the year.
Becoming eligible at 50 but starting catch-up contributions at 52 still leaves roughly 13 years to benefit from the higher annual limits.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a catch-up contribution?
- It is extra money savers age 50 and older can contribute to a retirement plan above the standard annual limit — $7,500 for a 401(k) in 2024, $1,000 for an IRA.
- When can I start making catch-up contributions?
- In the calendar year you turn 50. You qualify for the whole year even if your 50th birthday is in December.
- Does the catch-up apply to both 401(k) and IRA?
- Yes, but separately. You can add the 401(k) catch-up to your workplace plan and the IRA catch-up to your IRA in the same year.
- Are these the current limits?
- These are the 2024 figures. Limits are indexed for inflation and SECURE 2.0 adds an enhanced catch-up for ages 60–63 from 2025, so check the latest IRS numbers each year.