Quiz: Are You Ready for the 2026 401(k) Catch-Up Shakeup?

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Quiz: Are You Ready for the 2026 401(k) Catch-Up Shakeup?

If you are 50 or older and a high earner, these new catch-up rules fundamentally change how your "extra" retirement savings are taxed and reported.

By Donna LeValley published 3 February 2026 in Features

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After a two-year "administrative transition period" provided by the IRS, one of the SECURE 2.0 Act's most talked-about provisions — the Roth catch-up mandate — is now the law of the land.

If you are 50 or older and a high earner, these rules fundamentally change how your "extra" retirement savings are taxed and reported. Making a mistake here doesn't just mean a missed savings opportunity; it could lead to unexpected tax bills.

Follow the links below to learn more about Roth 401(k)s and the new catch-up provisions and how they impact your retirement income.

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More on Roth 401(k)s and catch-up rules:

• 6 Changes to IRAs, 401(k)s and HSAs in 2026
• The 2026 Retirement Catch-Up Curveball: What High Earners 50 and Older Need to Know Now
• What to Do If You Plan to Make Catch-Up Contributions in 2026
• Roth 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026
• Roth 401(k) vs 401(k): Which Is Right for You?
• IRA Conversion to Roth: Rules to Convert an IRA or 401(k) to a Roth IRA
• Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026
• Average IRA Balance by Age and Generation

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Donna LeValleyRetirement Writer

Donna joined Kiplinger as a personal finance writer in 2023. She spent more than a decade as the contributing editor of J.K.Lasser's Your Income Tax Guide and edited state specific legal treatises at ALM Media. She has shared her expertise as a guest on Bloomberg, CNN, Fox, NPR, CNBC and many other media outlets around the nation. She is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and the University at Buffalo. 

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