Can I contribute to last year's 401(k)?

[cheapass]

The wife and I are trying to reduce our tax liability for 2015. We started maxing out our 401(k)'s around October, so neither one of us has contributed the maximum $18K for last year.

Can I contribute to last year's 401k or is that only possible with IRA's?

[Gone Fishing]

Not that I know of.

[therethere]

No, but you could throw it in a traditional IRA (or recharacterize Roth contributions) if you are within the income limits to deduct contributions.

[cheapass]

No, but you could throw it in a traditional IRA (or recharacterize Roth contributions) if you are within the income limits to deduct contributions.

I'm not.

[frugalnacho]

The wife and I are trying to reduce our tax liability for 2015. We started maxing out our 401(k)'s around October, so neither one of us has contributed the maximum $18K for last year.

Can I contribute to last year's 401k or is that only possible with IRA's?

Nope, that ship has sailed as of the last payroll of 2015.  The deadline for IRA contributions is the due date for filing your taxes (April 18, 2016 for the 2015 tax season).

[cheapass]

shit. well we're over the income limit for IRA's so I guess we're hosed then.

[therethere]

At least find solace in knowing that you aren't the only one. What I would give to have the ability to go back in time and max previous years IRA's or 401k's!