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The 2027 HSA contribution limits are already official, but the IRS has not yet announced the 2027 limits for 401(k)s, IRAs, 403(b)s, or most other retirement accounts.
For now, the clearest retirement-plan estimate comes from Milliman. Its latest forecast, updated August 13 using inflation data through July, projects the 401(k), 403(b), and 457 deferral limit rising from $24,500 in 2026 to $25,500 in 2027. The standard age 50+ catch-up is projected at $8,500, while the higher catch-up for ages 60 through 63 is projected at $11,750. These are forecasts, not IRS limits.
Key takeaways
- 2027 HSA limits are official: $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage.
- The 2027 401(k), 403(b), and 457 deferral limit is not official. Milliman’s latest forecast is $25,500, up from $24,500 in 2026.
- The regular age 50+ workplace-plan catch-up is currently projected to rise from $8,000 to $8,500.
- The higher catch-up for workers ages 60 through 63 is projected to rise from $11,250 to $11,750.
- The 2027 IRA contribution limit is still unknown. The official 2026 limit is $7,500, but Milliman’s July forecast does not provide a 2027 IRA estimate.
- Final retirement-plan limits should come after the September inflation data is available, likely in October or November 2026.
2027 contribution limits at a glance
| Account or limit | 2026 | 2027 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSA, self-only | $4,400 | $4,500 | Official |
| HSA, family | $8,750 | $9,000 | Official |
| 401(k)/403(b)/457 deferral | $24,500 | $25,500 | Milliman forecast |
| Workplace catch-up, age 50+ | $8,000 | $8,500 | Milliman forecast |
| Higher catch-up, ages 60 to 63 | $11,250 | $11,750 | Milliman forecast |
| Defined contribution annual addition limit | $72,000 | $75,000 | Milliman forecast |
| Traditional/Roth IRA | $7,500 | Not yet official | TBD |
The distinction between official and projected matters. The HSA numbers can already be used for 2027 planning. The retirement-plan numbers can still change before the IRS publishes its final inflation adjustments.
What is already official for 2027?
The IRS published the 2027 HSA limits in Revenue Procedure 2026-24.
For 2027, you can contribute up to:
- $4,500 with self-only qualifying HDHP coverage
- $9,000 with family qualifying HDHP coverage
That is up from $4,400 and $8,750 respectively in 2026.
The HSA catch-up contribution for eligible people age 55 and older remains $1,000.
The IRS also set the 2027 requirements for a qualifying high-deductible health plan. The minimum deductible rises to $1,750 for self-only coverage and $3,500 for family coverage, while maximum annual out-of-pocket expenses rise to $8,700 and $17,400, respectively.
So unlike the retirement limits below, these HSA numbers are not forecasts.
What is the latest 2027 401(k) forecast?
Milliman updated its forecast on August 13, 2026 after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released July inflation data.
Its latest estimates are:
| Retirement-plan limit | 2026 official | 2027 Milliman forecast |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k)/403(b)/457 deferral | $24,500 | $25,500 |
| Standard catch-up, age 50+ | $8,000 | $8,500 |
| Higher catch-up, ages 60 to 63 | $11,250 | $11,750 |
| Defined contribution annual addition limit | $72,000 | $75,000 |
That is a meaningful change from Milliman’s first 2027 forecast.
Its March forecast estimated a $25,000 employee deferral limit. By May, June, and July, the estimate had moved to $25,500 as additional inflation data became available.
If you saw an article citing $25,000 as Milliman’s latest projection, it is now outdated.
Could the $25,500 forecast still change?
Yes.
Milliman’s July forecast uses actual inflation data through July 31 plus an assumption for August and September. Those final two months still matter.
Milliman says its projected $25,500 deferral limit could fall by $500 if inflation over August and September were sufficiently weak. Other limits could move as well.
The next important inflation update is the August CPI report, expected September 11, followed by September data in October.
That is why $25,500 should be described as a forecast, not “the 2027 401(k) limit.”
What about the 2027 IRA contribution limit?
The IRS has not announced it yet.
For 2026, the traditional and Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,500. The age 50+ IRA catch-up is $1,100, making the maximum $8,600 for an eligible saver age 50 or older.
I would not publish a specific 2027 IRA number yet.
Milliman’s current forecast covers qualified retirement-plan limits such as 401(k), 403(b), 457, catch-up, compensation, and annual-addition limits. Its July table does not provide a projected 2027 traditional/Roth IRA contribution limit.
That means the safest answer today is:
2027 IRA limit: not yet official.
Once the IRS publishes its annual retirement cost-of-living adjustments, this section can be updated with the actual number.
How much could a 60 to 63-year-old contribute?
SECURE 2.0 created a larger catch-up contribution for workers who reach ages 60, 61, 62, or 63 during the calendar year.
For 2026, the IRS confirms that the regular workplace-plan catch-up is $8,000, while qualifying participants ages 60 through 63 can instead use the higher $11,250 catch-up.
Milliman currently projects those numbers increasing in 2027 to:
- $8,500 for the regular age 50+ catch-up
- $11,750 for the age 60 to 63 catch-up
If the projected $25,500 base limit also becomes official, someone eligible for the higher catch-up could potentially defer as much as $37,250 in 2027.
That $37,250 figure is also a projection, because both components have not yet been finalized by the IRS.
Once you are no longer in the age 60 to 63 window, the special higher catch-up no longer applies and the regular age 50+ catch-up rules apply instead.
What is the $75,000 defined contribution limit?
The employee deferral limit is not the only number that matters in a 401(k).
There is also an overall annual-additions limit covering contributions such as employee deferrals, employer matching contributions, and employer nonelective contributions, subject to the applicable rules. Catch-up contributions are generally treated separately from this limit.
The official limit is $72,000 in 2026. Milliman currently projects it increasing to $75,000 for 2027.
Most workers will never reach this ceiling through ordinary employee deferrals alone. It becomes more relevant for people receiving large employer contributions or using retirement strategies that can produce much larger total plan contributions.
Should you change your 2027 contributions now?
Probably not based on the forecast alone.
If your goal is simply to max out a 401(k) next year, there is little benefit to setting payroll around a projected $25,500 limit before the IRS confirms it.
What you can do now is use the forecast for rough budgeting.
If $25,500 becomes official and you are paid twice per month, for example, maxing the employee deferral evenly across 24 paychecks would require about $1,062.50 per paycheck before accounting for any plan-specific rules.
But wait for the official limit before treating that as your final contribution target.
For 2026, the confirmed employee deferral limit remains $24,500, or $32,500 when adding the standard $8,000 catch-up for an eligible worker age 50 or older. Someone eligible for the age 60 to 63 catch-up can contribute up to $35,750.
Unused 401(k) contribution room generally does not carry forward into the next calendar year.
When will the official 2027 retirement limits come out?
There is no guaranteed November 1 announcement date.
The limits depend on inflation data through the end of the federal fiscal year on September 30. Milliman says the IRS could release the final 2027 limits in October or November 2026. For comparison, the IRS announced the 2026 retirement contribution adjustments in November 2025.
For now, the timeline is:
- September 11, 2026: August CPI data is expected, allowing another forecast update
- October 2026: September inflation data completes the period used to calculate the limits
- October or November 2026: official IRS retirement-plan adjustments are expected
- January 1, 2027: new calendar-year limits take effect
The exact IRS announcement date should not be treated as known until the agency publishes it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2027 401(k) contribution limit?
It is not official yet. Milliman’s latest August 13 forecast projects a $25,500 employee deferral limit for 2027, up from the official $24,500 limit in 2026.
What is the 2027 IRA contribution limit?
The IRS has not announced it yet. The official IRA contribution limit is $7,500 for 2026, plus a $1,100 catch-up for eligible savers age 50 and older.
What are the 2027 HSA contribution limits?
The official 2027 HSA contribution limits are $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage.
What is the projected 2027 401(k) catch-up limit?
Milliman currently projects the regular age 50+ catch-up at $8,500 and the higher catch-up for ages 60 through 63 at $11,750. Neither amount is official yet.
When will the IRS announce the official 2027 retirement limits?
The IRS has not announced a release date. The numbers depend on inflation data through September, and the final limits are expected in October or November 2026.
The bottom line
The 2027 HSA limits are already official at $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage. The 2027 retirement limits are not.
As of August 20, Milliman’s latest forecast puts the 401(k), 403(b), and 457 employee deferral limit at $25,500, the regular age 50+ catch-up at $8,500, the age 60 to 63 catch-up at $11,750, and the overall defined contribution annual-additions limit at $75,000.
The 2027 IRA limit remains unknown. Rather than guessing, use the official 2026 limit of $7,500 as the current reference point and update your 2027 plan once the IRS publishes the final retirement cost-of-living adjustments.
For now, use the retirement projections to estimate your savings budget, not as final payroll limits.
