# 401 k plus 403 b

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/401-k-plus-403-b/632268>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 22, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/401-k-plus-403-b/632268 "2012-08-22T13:19:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/401-k-plus-403-b/632268/1 "2012-08-22T13:19:44Z")

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My wife and I file jointly. I currently am contributing the maximum into a 401 k. She will now be eligible to contribute to a 403 b. I am confused by some of the information that I have read. Will she be able to contribute to the 403 b even though I am already maxed out on my 401K?

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**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/401-k-plus-403-b/632268/2 "2012-08-22T14:55:54Z")

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Yes, they are individual accounts and you are both allowed the maximum contribution of $17,000/year + catch up contributions if you are eligible.

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**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/401-k-plus-403-b/632268/3 "2012-08-22T16:41:42Z")

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I’ll second that.

The time to worry is when an individual has more than one plan during a year because the caps on deferrals are per person, not per plan.

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**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/401-k-plus-403-b/632268/4 "2012-08-22T16:45:46Z")

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So I guess the answer isn’t “804 m”, then.

(You know you were thinking it.)

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/401-k-plus-403-b/632268/5 "2012-08-22T16:53:58Z")

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> [@Billdo](#):
>
> So I guess the answer isn’t “804 m”, then.

Win.

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**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/401-k-plus-403-b/632268/6 "2012-08-23T00:31:18Z")

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> [@Billdo](#):
>
> So I guess the answer isn’t “804 m”, then.
> 
> (You know you were thinking it.)

Yes, I really really was.