401(k) Retirement Calculator
Project retirement savings with employer match, compound returns, and IRS annual contribution limits.
Project retirement savings with employer match, compound returns, and IRS annual contribution limits.
Project retirement savings with employer match, compound returns, and IRS annual contribution limits. Calculate exact, penny-accurate projections compliant with 2026 IRS Rules IRS • St. Louis FED (FRED) standards using Calconova's deterministic IEEE-754 (Decimal.js) calculation engine with instant breakdowns.
FV_n = FV_{n-1} × (1 + r) + (Salary_n × Employee% + EmployerMatch_n)Employee salary deferrals (subject to annual IRS limits plus Age 50+ catch-up) and employer matching contributions compound tax-deferred each year; the 4% Safe Withdrawal Rate estimates sustainable monthly retirement income.
Pre-calculated benchmark tables across different budgets, terms, and rate models.
All calculations, amortizations, and scenario projections displayed on this page are strictly for informational and educational purposes. Nothing herein constitutes investment, financial, tax, underwriting, or legal advice. Actual interest rates, closing costs, lender fees, and statutory criteria may vary. Calconova explicitly disclaims all liability for any financial decisions or actions taken based upon these calculations. Users are strongly advised to consult a certified financial planner, CPA, or licensed lending officer prior to executing financial commitments.
The IRS sets an annual elective deferral limit on how much an employee can contribute from their paycheck into a 401(k). Savers aged 50 and older are permitted an additional 'Catch-Up Contribution' (with enhanced super catch-up limits for ages 60–63 under SECURE 2.0). Employer matching contributions do not count toward the employee deferral cap.
An employer match means your company contributes extra money to your 401(k) based on your own deferrals up to a salary cap. For example, a '50% match up to 6% of salary' adds an automatic 3% of your pay if you contribute 6%—providing an instant 50% to 100% additional employer contribution on that portion.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, lowering your taxable income today, while withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. Roth 401(k) contributions are made with after-tax dollars, offering no upfront tax break, but qualified withdrawals of both principal and compound growth in retirement are 100% tax-free.
Based on the landmark Trinity Study, the 4% rule states that if you withdraw 4% of your total retirement portfolio in your first year of retirement and adjust that dollar amount for inflation each subsequent year, a balanced stock/bond portfolio has a very high historical probability of lasting at least 30 years.
Unless you qualify for an IRS exception (such as the Rule of 55 when leaving an employer, total disability, or substantially equal periodic payments), withdrawing funds from a 401(k) before age 59½ triggers a 10% IRS early withdrawal penalty on top of ordinary federal and state income taxes.
For 2026, the IRS elective deferral limit for employees is $23,500. Workers aged 50 and older can make an additional catch-up contribution of $7,500, bringing their maximum contribution to $31,000.
An employer match is when your company deposits additional money into your 401(k) based on your contributions. A standard match is 50% of your contributions up to 6% of your salary, which is effectively a 3% salary bonus that shouldn't be left on the table.
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