IRS publishes 2026 benefits parameters for cafeteria plans, health reimbursement plans

Source: BenefitsPRO, by Allison Bell

What You Need To Know

• The IRS updates the numbers here every year.

• The changes reflect the impact of inflation.

• The average increase for these figures is 2.55%.

Fortunetellers already know how U.S. benefits professionals will spend some of their time from now through mid-2027: They will keep searching the internet for the minimum numbers, maximum numbers and other numbers that shape how the tax breaks for health benefits and other benefits work in 2026.

The Internal Revenue Service publishes several batches of inflation-adjusted benefits program "parameters" throughout the year.

One of the longest usually comes out in October, and, in spite of the effects of the federal government shutdown, the IRS managed to post the October parameters update last week.

To learn more, visit Benefits Pro’s analysis here.