Why match math matters near year-end
Employer match is often the highest “guaranteed” return available inside a workplace plan — subject to vesting and employment rules. Missing the match window because deferrals are too low, or because front-loading skipped per-paycheck match without a true-up, is a common and expensive mistake.
This calculator models a simple formula: the employer matches a stated percent of each dollar you defer, but only on deferrals up to a percent-of-pay cap. Example: 50% match on the first 6% of pay. Your Summary Plan Description (SPD) may use tiers, nonelective safe harbor amounts, or discretionary profit sharing instead.
How the inputs work
Salary is annual gross pay used for the percent math. Deferral % is your election. Match % of each deferred $ is 50 for a half-match, 100 for dollar-for-dollar. Match applies to first (% of pay) is the cap window. Elective deferral limit and catch-up truncate employee deferrals; confirm current IRS notices before relying on any default.
IRS IR-2025-111 announced a $24,500 elective deferral figure for 2026 for many plan types, with separate catch-up amounts. Treat every default here as editable.
True-up, vesting and testing
Some plans reconcile match at year-end (true-up); others only match per paycheck. Vesting schedules can forfeit unvested match if you leave. Highly compensated employee testing can reduce deferrals mid-year. None of those edges appear in this simple model — read your SPD and ask HR.
Pair this tool with guides on understanding match, elective deferral limits and year-end windows.
Privacy and honesty
Calculations run locally in your browser on NestEgg. We do not need an account and we do not receive the numbers you type. Advertisers help keep the tools free; ads are labelled. Affiliate links, when present, use rel="sponsored" and are described in the affiliate disclosure.
NestEgg provides educational arithmetic only. Results are estimates. Confirm figures with primary sources and licensed professionals.
Using this tool responsibly
Enter figures from your own documents when you need a serious plan. Change one input at a time when comparing scenarios so cause and effect stay obvious. Revisit after life events or new plan documents.
Write down the scenario you chose and the assumption that mattered most. Bring that short note to a conversation with the right licensed professional for your topic.
Privacy and honesty
Calculations run locally in your browser on NestEgg. We do not need an account and we do not receive the numbers you type. Advertisers help keep the tools free; ads are labelled. Affiliate links, when present, use rel="sponsored" and are described in the affiliate disclosure.
NestEgg provides educational arithmetic only. Results are estimates. Confirm figures with primary sources and licensed professionals.
Using this tool responsibly
Enter figures from your own documents when you need a serious plan. Change one input at a time when comparing scenarios so cause and effect stay obvious. Revisit after life events or new plan documents.
Write down the scenario you chose and the assumption that mattered most. Bring that short note to a conversation with the right licensed professional for your topic.