On November 4, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released the 2022 dollar limitations that apply to tax-qualified retirement plans. With few exceptions, the 2022 limitations published in Notice 2021-61 have been adjusted upwards. Catch-up contribution maximums and the compensation amount for simplified employee pensions (SEPs) have not changed. The table below lists key 2022 amounts that affect tax-qualified retirement plans, compared to the current amounts.
| Internal Revenue Code (IRC) or Regulation Section | 2022 | 2021 |
| Defined benefit plan limit: IRC § 415(b)(1)(A) | $245,000 | $230,000 |
| Defined contribution plan limit: IRC § 415(c)(1)(A) | $61,000 | $58,000 |
| Elective deferral exclusion limitation: IRC § 402(g)(1) | $20,500 | $19,500 |
| Annual compensation limit: IRC §§ 401(a)(17) and 404(l) |
$305,000 | $290,000 |
| Annual simplified employee pension (SEP) compensation limit: IRC § 408(k)(3)(C) | $305,000 | $290,000 |
| Key employee dollar limitation in top-heavy plans: IRC § 416(i)(1)(A)(i) | $200,000 | $185,000 |
| Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) maximum account balance: IRC § 409(o)(1)(C)(ii) | $1,230,000 | $1,165,000 |
| ESOP dollar amount to determine lengthening of five-year distribution period: IRC § 409(o)(1)(C)(ii) | $245,000 | $230,000 |
| Highly compensated employee limitation: IRC § 414(q)(1)(B) | $135,000 | $130,000 |
| Catch-up contributions limitation: IRC § 414(v)(2)(B)(i) |
$6,500 | $6,500 |
| Savings incentive match plan for employees (SIMPLE) catch-up contributions limitation: IRC § 414(v)(2)(B)(ii) |
$3,000 | $3,000 |
| SEP compensation amount: IRC § 408(k)(2)(C) | $650 | $650 |
| SIMPLE contribution limit: IRC § 408(p)(2)(E) | $14,000 | $13,500 |
| Deferral limitation: IRC § 457(e)(15) | $20,500 | $19,500 |
| Social Security tax wage base | $147,000 | $142,800 |
