There is no age limit on 401(k) contributions. If you’re 72, 78, or 85 and still earning income from an employer that offers a 401(k), you can keep contributing. The IRS removed the age cap on traditional IRA contributions back in 2020, and 401(k) plans never had one. But the question most people are actually asking isn’t whether contributions are allowed. It’s whether contributing makes sense when Required Minimum Distributions are simultaneously forcing money out of the account. Putting $24,500 into a 401(k) while the IRS mandates you pull out $35,000 creates a mathematical and tax situation that deserves more scrutiny than the simple “yes, you can” answer most articles provide.
The Rules: No Age Cap on 401(k) Contributions
The contribution rules at 72+ are identical to those at any other age, with one bonus: enhanced catch-up contributions for certain age brackets under SECURE 2.0.
Standard and catch-up limits still apply in full
For 2026, the employee salary deferral limit is $24,500. Workers aged 50 and older qualify for a catch-up contribution of up to $8,000, bringing the total employee contribution to $32,500. SECURE 2.0 introduced a “super catch-up” for ages 60 through 63, allowing up to $10,000 or 150% of the standard catch-up limit (whichever is greater). Once you pass 63, you revert to the standard catch-up amount. At 72, your maximum employee contribution is $32,500. Employer matching contributions and profit-sharing can push the combined total to $73,500 (the overall annual addition limit for 2026).
The still-working exception that delays RMDs
If you’re still employed at the company sponsoring your 401(k) and you own 5% or less of the business, you can delay RMDs from that specific plan until you actually retire. This is the critical interaction between contributions and distributions. As long as you keep working, you keep contributing and avoid RMDs from your current employer plan simultaneously. This exception does not apply to IRAs or 401(k) accounts from previous employers. Only the plan at your current job qualifies.
The RMD Collision: Contributing and Withdrawing Simultaneously
Once you retire or if you’re taking RMDs from other accounts, the math of contributing while distributing requires careful analysis to determine whether the tax benefit is net positive.
When contributions offset RMDs on a tax basis
If you contribute $24,500 pre-tax to your 401(k), that reduces your taxable income by $24,500. If your RMD from an IRA is $30,000, the contribution effectively shelters most of the RMD from taxation. The net taxable increase from the RMD drops from $30,000 to $5,500. For someone in the 22% bracket, that’s a tax savings of roughly $5,400 per year. The contribution still generates tax-deferred growth, and you’ve partially neutralized the forced withdrawal’s tax impact. This strategy only works if you have earned income (W-2 wages or self-employment income) sufficient to support the contribution.
When it doesn’t make sense: Roth conversions vs. continued contributions
If you’re over 73 and taking RMDs, every pre-tax contribution simply creates a larger balance that generates larger RMDs in future years. You’re essentially deferring taxes that will come due later at potentially higher rates. An alternative strategy is to skip the pre-tax contribution and instead use that income to fund Roth conversions of existing IRA or old 401(k) balances. Roth conversions reduce future RMD obligations and create a pool of tax-free money. If your Roth 401(k) option is available, contributing to Roth 401(k) instead of pre-tax achieves a similar result: you pay tax now, but the growth and distributions are tax-free and exempt from RMDs.
The Roth 401(k) Advantage for Workers Over 72
SECURE 2.0 fundamentally changed the calculus for older workers by eliminating RMDs on Roth 401(k) accounts. This makes Roth contributions particularly attractive for anyone over 73 who is still working.
No RMDs on Roth 401(k) balances starting in 2024
Previously, Roth 401(k) accounts required RMDs just like traditional 401(k) accounts, which negated one of the Roth’s biggest advantages. SECURE 2.0 eliminated this requirement. Now, Roth 401(k) contributions grow tax-free, distribute tax-free, and never trigger mandatory withdrawals. For a 74-year-old still working and contributing, directing salary deferrals to the Roth 401(k) builds a pool of money completely outside the RMD system. This is the cleanest way to save at an advanced age without amplifying the RMD problem.
Employer match still goes pre-tax regardless of your election
Even if you elect 100% Roth salary deferrals, your employer’s matching contributions go into the pre-tax portion of the plan. Those matched funds will be subject to RMDs. There is currently no mechanism for employers to make Roth matching contributions to a 401(k), though SECURE 2.0 authorized it as an option that plans may adopt. Until your plan specifically adds this feature, expect the match to land in the traditional bucket.
Practical Scenarios: Should You Keep Contributing After 72?
The answer depends on your specific income, tax bracket, other retirement balances, and estate planning goals.
Scenario 1: still working full-time with a strong match
If your employer matches contributions, contributing at least enough to capture the full match is almost always worthwhile. A 100% return on the matched portion dwarfs any concern about future RMDs. If you’re under the 5% ownership threshold, the still-working exception delays RMDs on this plan, making continued pre-tax or Roth contributions unambiguously beneficial. Direct deferrals to Roth if your plan offers it.
Scenario 2: part-time work, already taking RMDs from other accounts
Contributing pre-tax reduces current taxable income but grows the future RMD base. Contributing Roth costs more today (no deduction) but creates tax-free wealth that escapes RMDs permanently. If your current bracket is 12% or 22%, Roth contributions are likely the better long-term play. If you’re in the 32%+ bracket, pre-tax contributions to offset RMD income may produce a larger net benefit. Run the numbers both ways for your specific bracket and expected longevity.
FAQ
Can I contribute to an IRA after age 72?
Yes. Since the SECURE Act of 2019, there is no age limit for traditional IRA contributions as long as you have earned income. Roth IRA contributions are also allowed at any age, subject to the standard income limits. You can contribute to both an IRA and a 401(k) simultaneously, though the deductibility of traditional IRA contributions may be limited if you’re also covered by a workplace plan.
Do I have to take my RMD before making 401(k) contributions?
There’s no required ordering. Contributions and RMDs are independent events. However, your RMD for the year must be satisfied by December 31 (or April 1 for your first RMD year). Contributions happen through payroll throughout the year. The IRS does not require you to take the RMD first, but you cannot use contributions to satisfy the RMD obligation. They are separate transactions.
What if I’m self-employed after 72?
Self-employed individuals can contribute to a solo 401(k) or SEP IRA at any age with no cap. If your solo 401(k) has a Roth option, this is particularly attractive for the same RMD-avoidance reasons. Be aware that if you own more than 5% of the business, the still-working exception does not apply, so RMDs from the plan begin at 73 regardless of whether you’re still operating the business.
Can I contribute to my spouse’s 401(k) if I’m over 72?
You cannot contribute directly to another person’s 401(k). However, if your spouse is employed and has their own 401(k), they can contribute from their own earned income. You can contribute to a spousal IRA on behalf of a non-working spouse using your earned income, which provides an additional $7,500 to $8,600 in tax-advantaged savings per year for the household.
Does contributing after 72 affect my Social Security benefits?
Pre-tax 401(k) contributions reduce your W-2 wages for income tax purposes but do not reduce the wages used to calculate Social Security benefits. Your Social Security benefit amount is based on your top 35 earning years, and 401(k) deferrals do not lower this figure. Continuing to work and earn after 72 may actually increase your Social Security benefit if current earnings replace a lower-earning year in the 35-year calculation.