There are important changes to the ACC Retirement Plan as a result of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. These changes, which take effect on January 1, 2026, may impact how you make catch-up contributions to your retirement account. Please review the information below to ensure your payroll and contribution forms are updated correctly.
New Catch-up Contribution Provisions Starting January 1, 2026
Beginning January 1, 2026, if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You are fifty (50) years or older,
- You are a FICA employee, and
- You earned $145,000 in FICA wages in the 2025 tax year,
your catch-up contributions must be made as post-tax Roth contributions. This means your catch-up contributions will be deducted from your paycheck after taxes and deposited into the Roth feature of the ACC Retirement Plan, which will be available starting January 1, 2026.
Special Note for Clergy
Generally, clergy pay Medicare and Social Security taxes under SECA (for self-employed individuals), not FICA (for regular employees). To qualify for the clergy housing allowance, the IRS expects clergy to pay taxes under SECA. If you are clergy and are being paid as a FICA employee, please consult your payroll provider and/or executive director, as appropriate to review your payroll status. Please contact me as well. While the ACC cannot provide tax or legal advice and has no authority to correct payroll errors, I will direct you to professionals who can assist in resolving any questions you may have.
Super Catch-Up Contributions (Ages 60-63)
If you qualify for the "super catch-up" provision (for individuals ages 60-63), and you meet the criteria above, your additional catch-up contributions must also be made as post-tax Roth contributions. If you do not meet all the criteria, your super catch-up contributions can continue to be made as pre-tax salary deferrals.
Roth Contribution Option for All Participants
Starting January 1, 2026, all participants in the ACC Retirement Plan may choose to make salary deferrals as Roth contributions (note: employer contributions are not eligible for Roth treatment). If you wish to make Roth contributions, notify your employer immediately so your payroll can be updated. Roth contributions are made with after-tax dollars, which may reduce your tax burden in retirement. You pay taxes on your contributions before they are deposited into your 403(b) account. Earnings on Roth contributions can be withdrawn tax-free once you reach age 59½ and have held the account for at least five years. Additionally, there is no required minimum distribution for Roth contributions during your lifetime.
IRS Contribution Limits
The IRS sets annual limits on how much you and your employer can contribute to your 403(b) account. These limits typically increase each year. The maximum contribution is the lesser of the IRS annual limit or 100% of your taxable salary. For the most current information on annual IRS limits, including the 2026 limits when available, please visit the ACC website.
For more information on Roth contributions in our 403b9 plan, click here to download this Fidelity brochure.