2025 Employee Benefit Plan Limits - Some Finalized, Some Projected

The IRS releases employee benefits annual limits for different plans on different cadences (based on legislative direction). As of October 2024, limits for health plans and HDHPs have been released, however, many are still not yet finalized. Final numbers for health FSAs, QSEHRAs, commute plans, and retirement plan limits are typically released in late October or early November. 

This summary includes employee benefit limits that are finalized and projected limits for those plans that have not yet been released (in a blue font). Following is a recap comparing the 2024 numbers with the 2025 numbers. 


Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

2024

2025

 

Health FSA Election Maximum

$3,200

$3,300

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

Health FSA Rollover Maximum 
(20% of Annual)

$640

     $660

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

Dependent Care Election Maximum 
(Not indexed)

$5,000

$5,000

 

 

 

HRA Limits

2024

2025

 

QSEHRA – Self Only

$6,150

$6,350

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

QSEHRA - Family

$12,450

$12,850

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

EBHRA

$2,100

$2,200

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

 

 

 

Monthly Commute

2024

2025

 

Transit Pass Maximum

$315

$325

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

Parking

$315

$325

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

Bicycle 
(Not indexed)

$20

$20

 

 

 

Retirement Plans

2024

2025

 

Elective Deferral Maximum

$23,000

$23,500

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

Catch-up Maximum (50+)

$7,500

$7,500

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

Total Contribution Limit (<50)

$69,000

$70,000

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

Total Contribution Limit (50+)

$76,500

$77,500

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

401(a) Compensation Limit

$345,000

$355,000

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

 

 

 

Compensation Thresholds

2024

2025

 

Highly Compensated Employee (HCE)

$155,000

$160,000

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

Key Employee Officer Comp

$220,000

$230,000

Projected, not finalized. Expect in early Nov.*

 

 

 

HDHP and HSA Limits

2024

2025

 

HDHP Minimum Deductible – Self Only

$1,600

$1,650

HDHP Minimum Deductible – Family

$3,200

$3,300

HDHP OOP Limit – Self-Only

$8,050

$8,300

HDHP OOP Limit – Family

$16,100

$16,600

HSA Contribution Limit – Self-Only

$4,150

$4,300

HSA Contribution Limit – Family

$8,300

$8,550

HSA Contribution Limit – Catchup (55+)

$1,000

$1,000

 

 

 

ACA Traditional Health Plan Limits

2024

2025

 

Health Plan OOP Limit – Self Only (Decreased by 2.6%)

$9,450

$9,200

Health Plan OOP Limit – Family (Decreased by 2.6%)

$18,900

$18,400

ACA Affordability Threshold

8.39%

9.02%

Min. Monthly Contribution for FPL Safe Harbor

$104.94

$113.20

 

 

 

Other Limits

2024

2025

 

 Educational Assistance
(Not indexed)

$5,250

$5,250

Adoption Assistance

$16,810

Pending

Projections difficult. Expect in early Nov.*

Social Security Wage Base

$167,700

$176,100




* The indexing formula for health FSA and qualified transportation plan limits is based on the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumer (C- CPI-U). The IRS typically releases these in late October or early November. Projections are based on the “Interim” C-CPI-U through June 2025 and “Initial” projections of C-CPI-C for July and August 2025.
 

References

IRS Rev. Proc. 2024-25 (Covering HSA, HDHP, and EBHRA limits)

Social Security Fact Sheet

Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumer (C- CPI-U)



 

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