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

Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free

Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

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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