Every January, payroll pros need one document: the new year’s figures, all in one place, without wading through a dozen IRS press releases. This page is that document for 2026. Every figure below is the published IRS, SSA, or DOL amount for 2026, organized by topic, with links to deep-dives on the more complex rules.
Bookmark this page. We update it on the day each new-year figure is announced — SS wage base in October, retirement limits in November, mileage rate in December, HSA limits in May (early-adopter slot — most publishers miss this one). For the 2027 edition, check back in November 2026.
Social Security, Medicare, and FICA (2026)
| Item | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security wage base | $184,500 | $176,100 | +$8,400 |
| Social Security rate (employee) | 6.2% | 6.2% | — |
| Social Security rate (employer match) | 6.2% | 6.2% | — |
| Maximum Social Security tax (employee) | $11,439.00 | $10,918.20 | +$520.80 |
| Medicare rate (employee + employer each) | 1.45% | 1.45% | — |
| Additional Medicare Tax rate | 0.9% | 0.9% | — |
| Additional Medicare Tax — employer withholding threshold (per employer per employee) | $200,000 | $200,000 | — |
| Additional Medicare Tax — employee filing thresholds (MFJ / Single / MFS) | $250,000 / $200,000 / $125,000 | same | — |
| Combined FICA rate (employee + employer, below SS wage base) | 15.3% | 15.3% | — |
The $200,000 Additional Medicare Tax threshold is an employer withholding trigger; it’s separate from the filing-status thresholds an employee uses on Form 8959. See Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%): When and How Employers Withhold for the full rules.
Retirement plan limits (2026)
401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b)
| Item | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Base employee elective deferral limit | $24,500 | $23,500 |
| Age 50+ catch-up (standard) | $8,000 | $7,500 |
| SECURE 2.0 enhanced catch-up (ages 60–63) | $11,250 | $11,250 |
| Maximum age-50–59 or 64+ total employee contribution | $32,500 | $31,000 |
| Maximum age-60–63 total employee contribution | $35,750 | $34,750 |
| Section 415(c) overall limit (employee + employer + forfeitures) | $72,000 | $70,000 |
| Annual compensation limit (Section 401(a)(17)) | $360,000 | $350,000 |
| HCE threshold (prior-year compensation) | $160,000 | $155,000 |
| Key employee threshold (officers) | $235,000 | $230,000 |
See The SECURE 2.0 Enhanced 401(k) Catch-Up for Ages 60–63 for the full rules on the 60–63 enhanced catch-up.
SIMPLE IRA
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Employee elective deferral limit (standard) | $17,000 |
| Employee elective deferral limit (employers with ≤25 employees) | $18,100 |
| Age 50+ catch-up (standard) | $4,000 |
| Age 50+ catch-up (≤25 employees, higher limit) | $3,850 |
| SECURE 2.0 enhanced catch-up (ages 60–63) | $5,250 |
Traditional and Roth IRA
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Contribution limit | $7,500 |
| Age 50+ catch-up | $1,000 |
Health accounts (2026)
HSA
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| HSA contribution limit — self-only HDHP | $4,400 |
| HSA contribution limit — family HDHP | $8,750 |
| HSA catch-up contribution — age 55+ | $1,000 |
| HDHP minimum deductible — self-only | $1,700 |
| HDHP minimum deductible — family | $3,400 |
| HDHP maximum out-of-pocket — self-only | $8,500 |
| HDHP maximum out-of-pocket — family | $17,000 |
FSA and Dependent Care
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Health FSA contribution limit | $3,400 |
| Health FSA carryover limit | $680 |
| Dependent Care FSA (DCAP) exclusion — single / MFJ | $7,500 (new; raised from $5,000 by OBBBA) |
| Dependent Care FSA — MFS | $3,750 |
See The OBBBA Dependent Care FSA Increase (2026: $7,500) for the full breakdown of the 40-year DCAP cap change and what payroll admin needs to do before the next enrollment cycle.
FLSA thresholds (2026)
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Exempt salary threshold (weekly) | $684 |
| Exempt salary threshold (annual equivalent) | $35,568 |
| Highly Compensated Employee (HCE) threshold | $107,432 |
| Computer-employee hourly alternative | $27.63/hour |
| Federal minimum wage | $7.25/hour |
| Federal tipped minimum wage (cash wage) | $2.13/hour |
These are federal figures. Many states impose higher salary thresholds and minimum wages — always check state law. See FLSA White-Collar Exemption Tests for the duties tests that sit on top of the salary thresholds.
Mileage, FUTA, and miscellaneous (2026)
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Standard mileage rate — business | $0.725/mile |
| FUTA wage base | $7,000 |
| FUTA gross rate | 6.0% |
| FUTA net rate (with full 5.4% SUTA credit) | 0.6% |
| Maximum FUTA per employee (after credit) | $42.00 |
| Household employee FICA threshold (cash wages) | $2,700 |
| Household employee FUTA threshold (any quarter) | $1,000 |
A note on per-state items
This page covers federal figures only. State-specific figures that also change annually include:
- State unemployment insurance (SUTA) wage bases and rates
- State disability insurance (SDI) rates — California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico
- State paid family and medical leave contributions — growing list of states
- State minimum wages — most states now exceed the federal $7.25
- State retirement-plan mandates — CA, OR, IL, CT, NY, VA, and others
For your state’s figures, start with the state’s department of labor or revenue — or use PrepToPay’s state reference tools inside the app.
What’s coming for 2027
Key figure-refresh dates to watch in late 2026:
- October 2026 — SSA announces 2027 wage base
- November 2026 — IRS announces 2027 retirement plan limits (Notice)
- December 2026 — IRS announces 2027 standard mileage rate
- May 2026 — IRS announces 2027 HSA/HDHP limits (yes, a full year ahead — the HSA rule is published early)
We’ll publish the 2027 edition of this page as each figure is announced. Subscribe to the PrepToPay newsletter to get each one in your inbox the day it’s published.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 Social Security wage base?
$184,500. Both employee and employer pay 6.2% on wages up to this amount. Medicare has no wage base limit — 1.45% applies to all wages.
What is the 2026 401(k) elective deferral limit?
$24,500 for employees under age 50. The age-50 standard catch-up adds $8,000 ($32,500 total). The SECURE 2.0 enhanced catch-up for ages 60–63 adds $11,250 instead of the standard catch-up ($35,750 total).
What is the 2026 HSA contribution limit?
$4,400 for self-only HDHP coverage and $8,750 for family HDHP coverage. Employees age 55+ may contribute an additional $1,000 catch-up.
What is the 2026 standard mileage rate?
$0.725 per mile for business use. Reimbursements at or below this rate under an accountable plan are excluded from taxable wages.
What is the 2026 FLSA exempt salary threshold?
$684 per week ($35,568 per year) under federal law. The exempt duties test must also be met. Some states impose higher salary thresholds.
What is the 2026 Additional Medicare Tax employer withholding threshold?
$200,000 per employer per employee per calendar year. Once an employee’s year-to-date wages from a single employer exceed $200,000, the employer withholds an additional 0.9% on all further Medicare wages.
Deep-dives on the topics behind these figures
- Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%): When and How Employers Withhold
- The SECURE 2.0 Enhanced 401(k) Catch-Up for Ages 60–63
- FLSA White-Collar Exemption Tests
- W-2 Box 12 Codes Explained
Practice with PrepToPay
The 2026 figures are already baked into the 1,160-question PrepToPay bank and 549 flashcards — every calculation question uses the current year’s limits, rates, and thresholds. The same question bank refreshes every year before the spring and fall exam windows. Start your 14-day free trial on FPC or CPP. A valid payment method is required at signup; you will not be charged during the trial. Reference is $9.99/month with no trial.
PrepToPay is an independent exam preparation service not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by PayrollOrg (American Payroll Association). FPC® and CPP® are registered trademarks of PayrollOrg. Use of these marks is for descriptive purposes only. Study questions are written for exam preparation purposes based on publicly available KSA frameworks and do not guarantee exam success or reflect official exam content.