401(k) True-Up Match Calculator
See how much employer match you lose by front-loading your 401(k) — and how a year-end true-up restores it when you max out before December.
How it works
Full match = salary × cap% × match-rate% · Per-paycheck match = full match × (months ÷ 12) · True-up = full − per-paycheck
Many 401(k) plans match on each paycheck, not on your annual total. If you front-load contributions and hit the IRS limit early, you stop contributing — and on plans without a true-up you also stop earning match for the rest of the year. A true-up provision recalculates the match on your full-year pay at year-end and pays the difference, which is why maxing out early only pays off if your plan trues up.
Worked example
On a $180,000 salary with a dollar-for-dollar match up to 6% of pay, the full match is $10,800. Maxing out by month 8 earns only 8/12 of that — $7,200 — from per-paycheck matching. A true-up adds back the missing $3,600.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 401(k) true-up?
It is a year-end adjustment where the employer recalculates its match against your full annual pay and contributions, then deposits any match you missed by contributing unevenly during the year. Not all plans offer it — check your summary plan description.
Should I still front-load my 401(k)?
If your plan trues up, front-loading gets your money invested sooner with no downside to the match. If it does not true up, spreading contributions evenly across all pay periods ensures you capture every dollar of match.
How do I know if my plan trues up?
Look in your plan documents for "true-up" or "annual match reconciliation," or ask HR. Plans that match per payroll period without a true-up are the ones where front-loading can cost you match.
Related calculators
Educational estimate using simplified assumptions — not tax, legal or financial advice. Verify limits and rules with the IRS or a qualified advisor.