2016 Cost of Living Adjustments for Retirement and Health Plans

Posted by Richard on December 16, 2015

The IRS has released the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) affecting dollar limitations for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), defined contribution and other retirement-related items for tax year 2016. In general, most limits will remain unchanged for 2016 because the increase in the cost-of-living index did not meet the threshold that would trigger their adjustment.

The table below compares both the retirement plan and health insurance plan limits for 2014 through 2016, with items that have changed for 2016 asterisked. Further guidance can be found on the IRS website.

 Retirement Plans

2014 Limit

2015 Limit

2016 Limit

 IRA contribution limit

$5,500

$5,500

$5,500

 IRA catch-up contributions for ages 50+

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

IRA AGI Deduction Phase-Out Starting at

 Joint Return

$96,000

$98,000

$98,000

 Single or Head of Household

$60,000

$61,000

$61,000

 IRA contributor not covered by a workplace retirement plan, but filing joint return with spouse who is

$181,000

$183,000

$184,000*

AGI Phase-Out for Contributions to Roth IRA

 Joint Return

$181,000

$183,000

$184,000*

 Single or Head of Household

$114,000

$116,000

$117,000*

 401(k), 403(b), 457(b)(2) elective deferrals

$17,500

$18,000

$18,000

 401(k), 403(b) “catch-up” contributions for ages 50+

$5,500

$6,000

$6,000

 SIMPLE plan elective deferral

$12,000

$12,500

$12,500

 SIMPLE “catch-up” contributions for ages 50+

$2,500

$3,000

$3,000

 Defined contribution plan maximum

$52,000

$53,000

$53,000

 Defined benefit plan maximum

$210,000

$210,000

$210,000

 Maximum includible compensation

$260,000

$265,000

$265,000

 Highly compensated employee

$115,000

$120,000

$120,000

 FICA taxable wage base

$117,000

$118,500

$118,500

 Health Insurance Plans

2014 Limit

2015 Limit

2016 Limit

 Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limit — individual

$3,300

$3,350

$3,350

 HSA contribution limit — family

$6,550

$6,650

$6,750*

 HSA “catch-up” contributions for ages 55+

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

 Minimum deductible for high-deductible health plan (HDHP) — individual

$1,250

$1,300

$1,300

 Minimum deductible for HDHP — family

$2,500

$2,600

$2,600

 Maximum out-of-pocket for HDHP — individual

$6,350

$6,450

$6,550*

 Maximum out-of-pocket for HDHP — family

$12,700

$12,900

$13,100*

 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution limit

$2,500

$2,500

$2,550

*Represents change from 2015.

Required Attribution

Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by Wealth Management Systems Inc. or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall Wealth Management Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscriber’s or others’ use of the content.

© 2015 Wealth Management Systems Inc. All rights reserved.