Retirement Contribution Limits

Changes to the Supplemental Retirement and Savings Plan Catch Up Contributions

Beginning January 1, 2026, certain catch-up contributions to the Boston University Supplemental Retirement and Savings Plan are required to be made on a Roth (after-tax) basis, in accordance with the Secure Act 2.0 of 2022.

What’s Changing

If you are age 50 or older in 2026, earned more than $150,000 in 2025, and make catch-up contributions, those contributions will automatically be designated as Roth contributions (unless you are already contributing on a Roth basis).
For 2026, the maximum employee contribution is $24,500, with an additional catch-up limit of $8,000, for a total of $32,500. If your 2025 earnings exceed $150,000, any portion of the $8,000 catch-up contribution must be made on a Roth(after-tax) basis.
If you turn ages 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2026, your catch-up limit increases to $11,250, allowing a total contribution of $35,750. If your 2025 earnings exceed $150,000, any portion of the $11,250 catch-up contribution must be made on a Roth(after-tax) basis.

Maximum Salary Reduction Summary for 2026

For calendar year 2026, the amount that may be tax-deferred to your retirement savings plan is the lesser of $24,500 or your total annual compensation. If you are over 50 years old, or will reach age 50 during calendar year 2026, this amount is the lesser of $32,500 or your total annual compensation, due to the special catch-up provision of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. These limits apply to all eligible employees.

Employees who attain the ages 60, 61, 62, and 63 in the year 2026, are eligible to make an additional catch-up contribution in the amount of $11,250 to the Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan, due to the SECURE 2.0 regulation changes. If you are eligible, the total contribution limit to the Supplemental Retirement and Savings plan is $24,500 plus the additional catch-up contribution in the amount of $11,250, for a total annual contribution of $35,750 or a total of $72,000 for employee and employer contributions, whichever is less. If your 2025 earnings exceed $150,000, any portion of the $11,250 catch-up contribution must be made on a Roth(after-tax) basis.

If you wish to change the amount you are contributing to the Retirement Plan or the company in which your contribution is invested, you may do so online.

$360,000 Limit on Compensation

The annual amount of compensation that a retirement plan may take into account for calendar year 2026 contribution purposes is limited to $360,000.

Integration Level for the Boston University Retirement Plan

For calendar year 2026, the integration level for the Boston University Retirement Plan is $72,500.

Contribution Limitations

Tax laws limit the amount of before-tax and after-tax Roth contributions that you can make to this plan each calendar year.

Internal Revenue Service Code Section 415 also places a limit on the total amount that may be contributed by the University and by you (before-tax and after-tax Roth and any other after-tax contributions) in a calendar year. If the sum of your contributions and the University’s contributions exceed any of the limits, certain IRS-mandated reductions apply.

Lastly, matching contributions by the University are subject to the requirements of Internal Revenue Service Code Section 401(m). If these requirements are not satisfied, matching contributions for certain participants may have to be reduced. If the 401(m) limitation should affect you, any amounts that would be reduced or returned on your behalf will be returned to you, via mail, in the form of a check by your investment fund sponsor. This amount will be treated as taxable income and you will receive a Form 1099 for the tax year in which you receive the returned contributions from your investment fund sponsor, for tax filing purposes.

Note: Special rules and limits apply if, during a calendar year, you also participate in another plan maintained by a business you own or control. For example, if you have consulting or other self-employment income and participate in a self-employed plan to which you make contributions, the special rules may affect you. If this situation applies to you, consult a qualified tax professional for advice.

Human Resources can assist in calculating the limits that apply to you.