401(k), IRA & Roth
A 401(k) calculator that counts the match and checks the 2026 limit
A 401(k) calculator with employer match for 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans: employees project their balance with raises and growth, and see their first-year deferral against the $24,5002026 · IRS limit.
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How much will my 401(k) be worth at retirement?
Project the current balance plus each year's contributions, your deferral and the employer match up to its limit, growing at an assumed return, with salary rising by an assumed raise. The 2026 employee deferral limit is $24,5002026 · IRS, plus a $8,0002026 · IRS catch-up at 50 and $11,2502026 · IRS at ages 60 to 63.
Open enrollment and the first January paycheck
Contribution decisions happen at open enrollment, at a new job and when a raise lands. The questions are practical: am I getting the full match, can I afford more, and what will it add up to? Clients over 50 also want to know whether the new age 60 to 63 catch-up applies to them.
What the client types into a search box
“how much should I contribute to my 401k to get the full match”
How a client works through it
Choose the plan type
401(k), 403(b) or 457; the 2026 limit appears for comparison.
Enter balance, salary and contribution
Current balance, annual salary and the percentage the employee defers.
Describe the match
Match percentage and the salary limit it applies up to.
Project to retirement
With an assumed return, annual raise and years to go, see the balance and its sources.
What lands in your inbox
When a client asks your firm to review the result, the request arrives as a contact record with their inputs and results attached, by email and, on paid plans, by webhook to your CRM.
Received
Salary, contribution percentage, match terms and balance tell you income, savings habits and plan generosity. A contribution below the match limit is money left on the table and a quick win. A first-year deferral near the limit suggests a high earner for whom Roth, backdoor and catch-up planning matter.
Where does the projected 401(k) balance come from?
Balance at Retirement is split into Your Contributions, Employer Match and Investment Growth, so clients see how much of the result is free money from the employer and how much is compounding.
Year-1 Deferral vs 2026 Limit flags whether the contribution exceeds the IRS limit in the first year. The calculator flags rather than blocks, and it does not apply vesting schedules, so unvested match could be lost on leaving.
Results shown: Balance at Retirement · Your Contributions · Employer Match · Investment Growth · Years · Year-1 Deferral vs 2026 Limit.
The match that's easy to miss
On a $70,000 salary with a match of 50% on up to 6% of pay, the employer adds up to $70,000 × 6% × 50% = $2,100 a year. An employee deferring only 4% gets $1,400, leaving $700 a year on the table, before any growth.
Why do CPA firms and advisers both offer a 401(k) calculator?
For advisers, it is the most familiar planning conversation and a gateway to rollover and allocation advice when clients change jobs. For CPA firms, contribution level is a tax decision: each pre-tax dollar reduces taxable income at the marginal rate, and the Roth option changes the answer.
Employers who are clients of the firm can link the calculator in benefit communications, which is a service to them and a soft introduction to their employees.
Follow-ups this request opens
- Set the contribution to capture the full employer match
- Decide between pre-tax and Roth 401(k) contributions
- Plan catch-up contributions after age 50
- Review investment options and fees inside the plan
What this calculator leaves out
- Limits are flagged, not enforced, and held at 2026 levels in later years.
- Vesting of employer contributions is ignored.
- Taxes on withdrawals and Roth versus pre-tax treatment are not modeled.
- Constant return and raise every year.
Platform disclaimer shown under the calculator: Estimates only. Assumes constant return and raises. The 2026 employee deferral limit is $24,500 ($8,000 extra catch-up at age 50+, $11,250 at ages 60-63); limits are flagged, not enforced, and vesting and taxes are ignored. Confirm plan rules with your administrator.
Compliance note for firms
Balance projections can be hypothetical performance when an adviser presents them; keep the return assumption client-controlled and explain methodology and limits. Recommending a pre-tax or Roth split is tax advice under Circular 230 §10.37 and should consider the client's current and expected tax rates.
Not legal advice. See our disclaimer and the guide to compliance for client calculators.
2026 figures this page relies on
| Figure | Value | Tax year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k)/403(b)/457(b) employee deferral limit | $24,500 | 2026 | IRS |
| Age 50+ catch-up contribution (401(k)/403(b)/457(b)) | $8,000 | 2026 | IRS |
| Age 60–63 catch-up contribution | $11,250 | 2026 | IRS |
The same values drive the calculator. Full list on the 2026 figures page.
Terms your client sees in the calculator
These definitions appear in the calculator's collapsible Definitions block, so clients don't have to call to ask what a label means.
- Elective deferral
- The part of your salary you choose to put into a 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b) plan through payroll. The IRS caps it each year: $24,500 for 2026 (IRS). Employer match does not count toward that cap. This calculator compares your first-year deferral with the limit and flags it, but does not reduce your contribution.
- Employer match
- Money your employer adds based on what you contribute. A 50% match pays 50 cents for each dollar you defer, up to the match limit. For example, on a $70,000 salary with a 6% limit and 50% match, the employer adds up to $2,100 a year. Matching dollars may be subject to a vesting schedule.
- Match limit
- The share of salary, beyond which your employer stops matching. If the limit is 6% and you contribute 10%, only the first 6% earns a match. Contributing less than the limit leaves part of the available match unused. This calculator applies the match percentage only to contributions up to this limit.
- Catch-up contribution
- An extra amount workers age 50 or older may defer above the regular limit. For 2026 it is $8,000 at age 50 and over, or $11,250 at ages 60 through 63 (IRS, 2026). Whether a plan allows it is up to the plan. This calculator flags the limits for reference and does not add catch-ups automatically.
- Annual return
- The average yearly gain on the investments in the account, after fund expenses. This calculator applies it as a steady rate compounded monthly, while real returns vary from year to year and can be negative. Small differences matter over long periods: 6% versus 7% over 30 years changes the ending balance substantially.
- Investment growth
- The part of the ending balance that comes from returns rather than deposits: balance at retirement minus the starting balance, your contributions and the employer match. Because returns compound, growth tends to make up a larger share of the balance in the later years of a long savings period.
In our glossary: Elective deferral · Catch-up contribution · Employer match
401(k) / 403(b) / 457 calculator: questions from firms and clients
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The employee deferral limit is $24,5002026 · IRS. Catch-ups add $8,0002026 · IRS at 50 and over, or $11,2502026 · IRS at ages 60 through 63 where the plan allows.
Does employer match count toward the employee limit?
No. Match counts toward the overall annual additions limit, not the employee deferral limit.
Does the calculator handle 403(b) and 457 plans?
Yes, choose the plan type. For 403(b) service catch-ups use the 403(b) calculator, and for the 457(b) special catch-up the 457 calculator.
Does it account for vesting?
No. Employer contributions may vest over several years; leaving early can forfeit part of the match.
Does it compare Roth and pre-tax?
No. Use the Roth vs. traditional calculator for that decision.
What happens if I enter more than the limit?
The calculator flags it in the Year-1 Deferral vs 2026 Limit result.
Can employers use this for their staff?
Yes. Many firms help business clients share it during open enrollment.
Which plan includes it?
Network. See pricing.
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Embed the 401(k) / 403(b) / 457 calculator on your firm's site in an afternoon and receive requests with the numbers already filled in.
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