Can I contribute to both a 457(b) and a 403(b) in the same year?

Yes, if your employer offers both — which is common in public education and government. The 457(b) and 403(b) limits are separate, so for 2025 you can defer $23,500 to each, for $47,000 total before any catch-up contributions. This 'stacking' is a major advantage available to many public-sector workers.

What's the main difference between a 457(b) and a 403(b)?

The biggest difference is the early-withdrawal rule. A 457(b) has no 10% early-withdrawal penalty once you separate from the employer, so you can access the money before age 59½ without the penalty other plans charge. They also have different special catch-ups: a 403(b) offers a 15-years-of-service catch-up, while a governmental 457(b) offers a final-3-years catch-up of up to double the limit.

What is the 457(b) special catch-up for 2025?

In each of the final three years before your plan's normal retirement age, a governmental 457(b) can let you contribute up to twice the normal limit — $47,000 for 2025 — to the extent you have unused contribution room from prior years. You can't combine this with the age-50 catch-up in the same year; you use whichever is larger. Source: IRS 457(b) contribution-limit topic page, verified 2026-06-18.

Which is better, a 457(b) or a 403(b)?

If you have access to both, using both is usually best because the limits stack. If you must choose, the 457(b)'s lack of an early-withdrawal penalty is valuable for anyone who might retire or leave before 59½. Otherwise the two are very similar — both share the $23,500 limit and the same age-50 and age-60–63 catch-ups.

What is the 457(b) vs 403(b): The Public-Sector Double Limit (2025)?

No early-withdrawal penalty and a limit that stacks on top of a 403(b) — compare a governmental 457(b) against a 403(b) with the real 2025 IRS rules. It runs free in your browser on Gera Tools, with nothing uploaded.

457(b) vs 403(b): The Public-Sector Double Limit (2025)

Name: 457(b) vs 403(b): The Public-Sector Double Limit (2025)
Creator: Gera Tools
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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457(b) vs 403(b)

If you work for a state or local government, you may be able to use a 457(b) and a 403(b) at the same time — and their limits stack. Each lets you defer $23,500 in 2025, so a public employee with both can shelter $47,000 of salary before any catch-up. The 457(b) also has a signature advantage: no 10% early-withdrawal penalty once you leave the employer. This page compares the two.

The table below compares each account on the rows that actually differ — the 2025 IRS contribution limits, catch-ups, employer match, income limits, early-withdrawal rules and required minimum distributions. It runs in your browser; nothing is sent to any server.

2025 limits used: 401(k)/403(b)/457(b) employee deferral $23,500 (+$7,500 at 50+, +$11,250 at 60–63); IRA $7,000 (+$1,000 at 50+); Roth IRA MAGI phase-out single $150,000–$165,000, MFJ $236,000–$246,000. Source: IRS Notice 2024-80 + IRS Newsroom IR-2024-285, verified 2026-06-18. Always confirm the current year’s figures at irs.gov.