- Home
- Puzzles
- Quizzes
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
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
- Copy link
- X
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 brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Today
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. Smart money moves start here.
Signup +
Sent five days a week
Kiplinger A Step Ahead
Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.
Signup +
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Closing Bell
Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.
Signup +
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Adviser Intel
Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.
Signup +
Delivered weekly
Kiplinger Tax Tips
Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.
Signup +
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Retirement Tips
Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement
Signup +
Sent bimonthly.
Kiplinger Adviser Angle
Insights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.
Signup +
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Investing Weekly
Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.
Signup +
Sent weekly for six weeks
Kiplinger Invest for Retirement
Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose.
Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletterAfter 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.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Sign upGet expert financial strategies and lifestyle insights delivered to your inbox every Monday and Thursday. Subscribe to our free newsletter, Retirement Tips.
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
Donna LeValleyRetirement WriterDonna 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.
Latest-
5 Vince Lombardi Quotes Retirees Should Live By
The iconic football coach's philosophy can help retirees win at the game of life.
-
The $200,000 Olympic 'Pension' is a Retirement Game-Changer for Team USA
The donation by financier Ross Stevens is meant to be a "retirement program" for Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
-
10 Cheapest Places to Live in Colorado
Property Tax Looking for a cozy cabin near the slopes? These Colorado counties combine reasonable house prices with the state's lowest property tax bills.
-
5 Vince Lombardi Quotes Retirees Should Live By
The iconic football coach's philosophy can help retirees win at the game of life.
-
The $200,000 Olympic 'Pension' is a Retirement Game-Changer for Team USA
The donation by financier Ross Stevens is meant to be a "retirement program" for Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
-
How to Turn Your 401(k) Into A Real Estate Empire — Without Killing Your Retirement
Tapping your 401(k) to purchase investment properties is risky, but it could deliver valuable rental income in your golden years.
-
Don't Bury Your Kids in Taxes: How to Position Your Investments to Help Create More Wealth for Them
To minimize your heirs' tax burden, focus on aligning your investment account types and assets with your estate plan, and pay attention to the impact of RMDs.
-
Are You 'Too Old' to Benefit From an Annuity?
Probably not, even if you're in your 70s or 80s, but it depends on your circumstances and the kind of annuity you're considering.
-
In Your 50s and Seeing Retirement in the Distance? What You Do Now Can Make a Significant Impact
This is the perfect time to assess whether your retirement planning is on track and determine what steps you need to take if it's not.
-
Your Retirement Isn't Set in Stone, But It Can Be a Work of Art
Setting and forgetting your retirement plan will make it hard to cope with life's challenges. Instead, consider redrawing and refining your plan as you go.
-
Why Picking a Retirement Age Feels Impossible (and How to Finally Decide)
Struggling with picking a date? Experts explain how to get out of your head and retire on your own terms.
