2017 Retirement Plan Limits Announced

2017 Retirement Plan Limits Announced: On October 27, in Notice 2016-62, the IRS announced the effect of cost-of-living adjustments on certain 2017 dollar limits for various retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans). Several of the main limits will not change for 2017 because the increase in the cost-of-living index did not meet statutory thresholds that trigger their adjustment. However, several limits will increase, to reflect certain cost-of-living adjustments. Here are the most notable figures for the majority of defined contribution plans:

• Compensation: The annual limit on compensation that can be taken into account for purposes of contributions and deductions will increase from $265,000 to $270,000. See Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) section 401(a)(17), which relates to contributions, and Code section 404(l), relating to deductions.
• Elective Deferrals: The elective deferral contribution limit will remain at $18,000 (not including catch-up contributions). See Code section 402(g).
• Catch-Up Contributions: This limit for participants who will be at least 50 years of age at any point during 2017 will remain at $6,000. See Code section 414(v).
• Highly Compensated Employees: The compensation threshold for determining who is a highly compensated employee will remain unchanged at $120,000. (Note that a participant’s ownership of the plan sponsor may also affect this determination.) See Code section 414(q).
• Annual Additions: The limit on the combination of employee contributions, employer contributions, and forfeiture allocations credited to a participant’s account will increase from $53,000 to $54,000. See Code section 415(c).
• Key Employees: The compensation amount for determining which officers are key employees (which is important for top-heavy plan purposes) will increase from $170,000 to $175,000. See Code section 416(i).

For more information, here is a link to Notice 2016-62: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-16-62.pdf

In addition, the Social Security taxable wage base will increase from $118,500 to $127,200 for 2017. The relevant Social Security Administration webpage can be accessed here: https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/cbb.html

Individuals who administer retirement plans (e.g., HR, Payroll, service providers) should start planning to implement the 2017 limits. This may involve steps such as drafting communications to employees, revising plan administration manuals, and revising payroll systems.