When it comes to 401(k) plans, the IRS really wants workers to crank up their contributions when they reach their 50s — so much so that the agency allows workers 50 and older to make “catch-up” contributions in case they fell behind earlier in life. The IRS wants to ensure that people without adequate retirement savings can make a final dash before they leave the workforce.

                By                    Vance Cariaga

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Thanks to a new rule unveiled last week, you’ll be able to contribute even more in 2023 in terms of both regular contributions and catch-up contributions. On Oct. 21, the IRS announced that the yearly 401(k) contribution limit will rise to $22,500 in 2023 from $20,500 in 2022.

The catch-up contribution limit rises to $7,500 in 2023 from $6,500 in 2022. Under these new limits, participants in 401(k) plans who are 50 and older can contribute up to $30,000 starting in 2023.

Most financial experts advise people in their 50s to max out their 401(k) contributions if they have the finances to do so, because there is a limited amount of time to build up your nest egg. As of 2021, the average retirement age in the United States is 65 for men and 62 for women. This means by the time you exit your 50s, you are likely to retire within the next half-decade. Contributing the maximum is a good idea even when the stock markets are down, as they have been in 2022.

“If you’re 50 years old and plan to retire in 15 years, your best bet may be to keep socking away money in your 401(k) or IRA in the same proportions as you have been,” financial author John Waggoner wrote in a blog for AARP.

One thing you don’t want to do is reach retirement age having to depend too heavily on Social Security — even with the 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment set to kick in next year.

The good news for employees in their 50s is that they are still in their highest earning years. American workers ages 45 to 54 earn a median yearly income of $63,648, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s the highest of the six age groups tracked by the BLS. Workers ages 55 to 64 earn a median income of $60,944 a year, which is third highest.

See: With A Recession Looming, Take These 3 Retirement Moves To Stay On Track

Learn: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Aren’t Taxable

Meanwhile, many people in their 50s have already paid off mortgages and other big debts, freeing up more money for retirement savings. Some might also be empty nesters who have already put their kids through college, though that’s less likely now that in decades past. The FinanceBuzz website lists college tuition as the top major expense for people in their 50s, followed by maximizing retirement savings.

If you need an overall retirement savings target to shoot for, Fidelity Investments recommends saving at least 15% of your pre-tax income each year, which includes any employer 401(k) match.

“The ultimate goal is to save 10 times your salary by the time you are 67,” Fidelity Vice President Meghan Murphy told US News & World Report.