On October 19, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service released the 2018 cost-of-living adjustments affecting dollar limits on benefits and contributions for qualified retirement plans. The Notice providing the cost-of-living adjustments is available here. The Service also announced various other inflation adjustments in a new revenue procedure (including an adjustment to the dollar limitation for flexible spending accounts). The Service previously announced the adjustments for Health Savings Accounts earlier this year. Last week, the Social Security Administration also announced its cost-of-living adjustments for the upcoming year.
The following chart summarizes the 2018 limits for benefit plans. The 2017 limits are provided for reference.
UPDATE: The Social Security Administration changed its cost-of-living adjustments for 2018 on November 27, 2017. The chart has been updated to reflect this change.
| 2017 | 2018 | |
| Elective Deferral Limit 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) | $18,000 | $18,500 |
| Catch-up Limit (age 50+) | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| Defined Benefit Limit | $215,000 | $220,000 |
| Defined Contribution Limit | $54,000 | $55,000 |
| Dollar Limit – Highly Compensated Employees | $120,000 | $120,000 |
| Officer – Key Employee | $175,000 | $175,000 |
| Annual Compensation Limit | $270,000 | $275,000 |
| SEP Eligibility Compensation Limit | $600 | $600 |
| SIMPLE Deferral Limit | $12,500 | $12,500 |
| SIMPLE Catch-up Limit (age 50+) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Social Security Taxable Wage Base | $127,200 | $128,400 |
| ESOP 5 Year Distribution Extension Account Minimum | $1,080,000 | $1,105,000 |
| Additional Amount for 1-Year Extension | $215,000 | $220,000 |
| HSA (Self/Family) Maximum Annual Contribution | $3,400/$6,750 | $3,450/$6,900 |
| HDHP Minimum Deductible Limits | $1,300/$2,600 | $1,350/$2,700 |
| Out-of-pocket Expense Annual Maximum | $6,550/$13,100 | $6,650/$13,300 |
| Medical FSA | $2,600 | $2,650 |