WASHINGTON — The national political parties are urging wealthy backers to give them 10 times more money than was allowed in the last presidential election, taking advantage of looser restrictions to pursue million-dollar donors with zeal.

Under the new plans, which have not been disclosed publicly, the top donation tier for the Republican National Committee has soared to $1.34 million per couple this election cycle. Democratic contributors, meanwhile, are being hit up for even more – about $1.6 million per couple – to support the party’s convention and a separate joint fundraising effort between the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign.

In return, elite donors are being promised perks such as retreats with top party leaders.

The new donor packages mark the latest major erosion of campaign finance limits and are reminiscent of the 1990s, when the parties were flush with huge “soft money” contributions from rich backers and corporations. The new push also further elevates the uber-wealthy at a time when independent big-money groups known as super PACs are dominating the 2016 presidential race.

“This makes the parties more indebted to a handful of very large donors giving beyond the means – or even the imagination – of most Americans,” said Trevor Potter, a Republican election law attorney who favors stricter campaign finance rules.

Officials have been quietly briefing top financiers on the details at gatherings such as the DNC’s summer meeting in Minneapolis and this weekend’s Republican leadership conference on Mackinac Island in Michigan.

Veteran campaign bundlers are astonished at the rapid inflation. Just four years ago, the most a donor could give a national political party was $30,800.

“I think it’s terrible,” said New York venture capitalist Alan Patricof, a major Clinton backer. “You’re going to have a very, very limited number of people who are going to be able to do that figure.”

But many donors in both parties are relieved the parties are seeking jumbo-sized contributions again, hopeful they will siphon off some of the funds ballooning the coffers of super PACs.

“I prefer to give to the party, and I think it’s a good option for those who don’t believe in super PACs,” said Robert Wolf, a major Wall Street fundraiser for Democrats.

Allies now hope the parties can regain their primacy by stockpiling cash under the control of their eventual nominees – resources that can go directly into voter outreach and field organizing.

“This will help stop the uncontrollable flow of non-transparent money and it will help rebuild the parties,” said Rick Hohlt, a longtime Republican fundraiser.