The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

08/13/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/13/2026 10:12

2026 401k, 457 and 403b Age-Catch Up Contributions Impacted By Secure 2.0 Act

Effective Jan. 1, 2026 the federal SECURE 2.0 Act required employers to change how they administer age-based catch-up contributions to State of Tennessee's voluntary retirement plans- 401(K), 457(b), 403(b) for certain high-income participants. Age catch-up contributions starting in 2026 must be Roth (post-tax).

2026 Contribution Limits

  • The Standard annual contribution (under age 50) is $24,500.
  • The age-catch-up contribution (age 50 and older) increased to $8,000, which allows for a total annual contribution amount of $32,500.

Who is Impacted?

  • Employees who will be 50 and older in 2026.
  • Employed with UT in 2025 and earned $150,000 or more in FICA wages (Box 3 on the W2) in 2025.
  • Eligible employees who plan to contribute age-based catch-up contributions (any amount above $24,500) in 2026.
Please reach out to Ryan Marlin with Empower directly if you have more questions about these changes via email at [email protected] or by contacting the UT Benefits office at 901-448-8547.
*The ULPS plan is not impacted by this update.*

Related

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center published this content on August 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 13, 2026 at 16:12 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]