Catch-Up Contributions: Maximize Your Meta 401(k) After 50
Meta employees who are 50 or older can contribute to their 401(k)s beyond the standard IRS limits. Here's how it works.
Key Takeaways
Using catch-up contributions, employees 50 and older can contribute up to $32,500 to their Meta 401(k) in 2026.
Employees ages 60–63 can contribute up to $35,750 under the SECURE 2.0 "super catch-up" provision.
Unlike most employers, Meta matches catch-up contributions to the 401(k).
Starting in 2026, employees who earned more than $150,000 in FICA wages in 2025 must make catch-up contributions on a Roth (after-tax) basis.
What Are Catch-Up Contributions at Meta?
If you're 50 or older, the IRS allows you to contribute more to your 401(k) than the standard annual limit. These additional contributions are called catch-up contributions, and they're designed to help workers accelerate their retirement savings as they approach retirement age.
Meta's 401(k) plan supports catch-up contributions, meaning eligible employees can take advantage of these higher limits on top of whatever Meta contributes through its matching program.
Catch-up contributions work the same way as your regular 401(k) deferrals. They can be made on a pre-tax (traditional) or after-tax (Roth) basis, and they're subject to the same investment options within the plan. The key difference is simply the higher dollar limit available to you once you turn 50.
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, there are now two tiers of catch-up contributions for 401(k) participants: the standard catch-up for employees ages 50 and older, and an enhanced "super catch-up" for employees ages 60 through 63. Let’s take a closer look at both.
2026 Catch-Up Contribution Limits
For 2026, the standard 401(k) contribution limit is $24,500. Once you reach the year in which you will turn 50, you unlock an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution, bringing your total to $32,500.
From age 60–63, this temporarily increases again to a super catch-up contribution of $11,250, for a total of $35,750. Once you turn 64, you revert to the standard $8,000 catch-up limit.
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Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Contributions for High Earners
Along with establishing super catch-up contributions, the SECURE 2.0 Act set new rules for high earners making any kind of catch-up contribution. Starting in 2026, Meta employees who are 50 or older and earned more than $150,000 in FICA wages in 2025 are required to make catch-up contributions on a Roth (after-tax) basis. If you exceed that limit, pre-tax catch-up contributions are no longer an option.
The $150,000 threshold is based on Box 3 of your 2025 W-2. This covers your Social Security FICA wages from Meta specifically, not your total income or adjusted gross income. FICA wages include:
Salary
Bonuses
Commissions
Taxable fringe benefits
The lookback applies each year going forward, so your status can change from year to year depending on your prior-year wages.
For most Meta employees, the $150,000 threshold is easy to reach. If you're subject to this rule, your regular deferrals up to $24,500 can still be made on a pre-tax or Roth basis as you choose. However, any catch-up contributions above that limit must go into a Roth account.
How Catch-Up Contributions Can Help You
1. More Tax-Advantaged Savings
Every dollar you add to your 401(k) can grow through strategic investments. The more you contribute, the better positioned you will be to build substantial wealth for retirement. Catch-up contributions give you more room to maximize your 401(k) returns.
2. Making the Most of Peak Earning Years
Employees in their 50s and early 60s are often at the highest point of their careers, with salaries to reflect that. Catch-up contributions let you channel more of that income into tax-advantaged savings at exactly the time when you have the most capacity to do so.
3. Making Up for Lost Time
Not everyone starts saving aggressively in their 20s and 30s. Catch-up contributions give employees who got a late start, took time out of the workforce, or simply had other financial priorities a meaningful way to close the gap before retirement.
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Meta Catch-Up Contributions FAQs
Does Meta match catch-up contributions?
Yes, and this is one of the more valuable aspects of Meta's 401(k) plan. Meta matches catch-up contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 50% of the catch-up limit. For 2026, that means an additional match of up to $4,000 on top of the standard match, or up to $5,625 for employees age 60–63.
Can I change my catch-up contribution amount during the year?
Yes, you can adjust your contribution rate at any time through Fidelity NetBenefits. However, changes apply to future pay periods and cannot be applied retroactively.
If I turn 50 mid-year, when can I start making catch-up contributions?
You become eligible in the calendar year you turn 50, regardless of what month your birthday falls. If you turn 50 at any point in 2026, you can begin making catch-up contributions starting January 1, 2026.
What happens if my income drops below $150,000 in a future year?
The Roth mandate is reassessed each year based on the prior year's FICA wages. If your 2026 wages fall below $150,000, you're no longer subject to the mandatory Roth rule in 2027 and can resume making pre-tax catch-up contributions.
When do catch-up contributions vest?
Immediately. Both your own contributions and Meta's matching contributions are 100% vested from day one. This applies to catch-up contributions as well.
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Get Help from a Trusted Team of Financial Advisors
Catch-up contributions are straightforward on their own, but how they fit into your broader financial picture is more complex. For Meta employees, that picture often includes RSU income, deferred compensation, and complicated tax rules.
If you're approaching retirement and want to make sure you're getting the most out of Meta's 401(k) plan, TrueWealth Financial Partners can help. We are a fee-only fiduciary advisory firm, which means we don't sell products or earn commissions. We’re paid by you to act in your best interest only.
Schedule a free 15-minute introductory call today, and we can get started on a retirement plan that works for you.