IRA Contribution Limit Calculator 2026
This IRA contribution limit calculator determines how much you can contribute to Roth and Traditional IRAs for 2026. Enter your age, filing status, MAGI and whether you are covered by a workplace retirement plan. The calculator looks up your maximum contribution ($7,500 for those under 50, or $8,600 at age 50 and older), then applies income phase-out rules if applicable. Roth IRA contributions phase out at $153,000 to $168,000 MAGI for single filers and $242,000 to $252,000 for married filing jointly. Traditional IRA deductibility depends on workplace plan coverage and MAGI: if you are covered, deductibility phases out at $81,000 to $91,000 (single) or $129,000 to $149,000 (married filing jointly). You can contribute to both account types in the same year, but combined contributions cannot exceed the annual limit. The calculator shows your maximum Roth IRA contribution, your Traditional IRA deductible portion, eligibility status for each, applicable phase-out ranges and your total combined IRA contribution limit. Useful for high earners considering backdoor Roth conversions or those managing multiple IRA accounts.
For a single filer age 42 with $80,000 MAGI in 2026: Roth IRA maximum is $7,500 (full eligibility). Traditional IRA: $7,500, fully deductible.
Combined limit across all IRAs (Roth + Traditional combined)
2026 IRA contribution limits explained
The IRS sets an annual dollar limit on contributions to all of your IRAs combined. For 2026, the limit is $7,500 per year. If you are age 50 or older, a catch-up contribution of $1,100 is allowed, bringing the total to $8,600. These limits apply to the sum of contributions to all your Traditional and Roth IRAs; you cannot contribute $7,500 to each.
You must have earned income (wages, salary, self-employment income) to contribute. Your contribution cannot exceed your earned income for the year.
| Age group | Annual contribution limit | Catch-up addition | Total limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under age 50 | $7,500 | Not applicable | $7,500 |
| Age 50 or older | $7,500 | $1,100 | $8,600 |
Source: IRS, Retirement Topics, IRA Contribution Limits, 2026.
Roth IRA income limits for 2026
Your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA is reduced or eliminated once your MAGI exceeds certain thresholds. The phase-out ranges below are from the IRS for 2026. Within the phase-out range, the maximum contribution is reduced proportionally; above the upper limit, no Roth IRA contribution is allowed.
| Filing status | Phase-out begins | Phase-out ends (ineligible above) |
|---|---|---|
| Single / Head of Household | $153,000 | $168,000 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $242,000 | $252,000 |
| Married Filing Separately (lived with spouse) | $0 | $10,000 |
Source: IRS, Retirement Topics, IRA Contribution Limits, 2026.
How the Roth IRA phase-out is calculated
When your MAGI falls within the phase-out range, the IRS reduces your maximum contribution proportionally. The reduced amount is rounded to the nearest $10 and is never less than $200 as long as you remain eligible. The formula: reduced limit = base limit x (1 minus (MAGI minus lower bound) divided by (upper bound minus lower bound)). Above the upper bound, no contribution is permitted.
Worked example (default values)
Single filer, age 42, MAGI $80,000, covered by a workplace plan:
- Base limit (age under 50): $7,500
- Roth IRA phase-out for single filer: $153,000 to $168,000
- MAGI $80,000 is below the lower bound ($153,000), so Roth IRA maximum = $7,500 (full eligibility)
- Traditional IRA maximum contribution: $7,500 (always the base limit if you have earned income)
- Traditional IRA deductibility phase-out for single filer covered by a workplace plan: $81,000 to $91,000
- MAGI $80,000 is below the lower bound ($81,000), so the contribution is fully deductible. (If MAGI were $85,000, inside the range, the deductible portion would be $7,500 x (1 minus ($85,000 minus $81,000) / ($91,000 minus $81,000)) = $7,500 x 0.6 = $4,500.)
- Maximum total IRA contribution across all IRAs: $7,500
Traditional IRA deductibility in 2026
Anyone with earned income can contribute up to the annual limit to a Traditional IRA, regardless of age or income. However, whether that contribution is tax-deductible depends on your income and whether you (or your spouse) are covered by a workplace retirement plan such as a 401(k) or 403(b).
If neither you nor your spouse is covered by a workplace retirement plan, your Traditional IRA contribution is fully deductible at any income level.
If you are covered by a workplace plan, the deduction phases out over the ranges below. A non-deductible contribution is still permitted; it grows tax-deferred, and you track the basis via IRS Form 8606.
| Situation | Phase-out begins | Phase-out ends (not deductible above) |
|---|---|---|
| Single / HOH, covered by workplace plan | $81,000 | $91,000 |
| MFJ, contributing spouse covered by workplace plan | $129,000 | $149,000 |
| MFJ, contributing spouse NOT covered, but other spouse IS | $242,000 | $252,000 |
| MFS, covered by workplace plan | $0 | $10,000 |
| Not covered by any workplace plan | Fully deductible at any MAGI | |
Source: IRS, Retirement Topics, IRA Contribution Limits, 2026.
Contribution limit and deduction are two separate tests
The single biggest confusion this calculator resolves is that the contribution limit and the tax deduction follow different rules. Anyone with earned income can put up to $7,500 (or $8,600 at age 50 and older) into a Traditional IRA in 2026, regardless of income. Whether that money is deductible is a separate question that turns on your MAGI and whether a workplace plan like a 401(k) covers you. Miss that distinction and you can wrongly conclude you are locked out when you are not.
Two traps deserve attention. Married filing separately is punishing: if you lived with your spouse at any point in the year, both Roth eligibility and deductibility collapse to a $0 to $10,000 range, so almost any income phases you out entirely. And high earners above the Roth ceiling ($168,000 single, $252,000 married filing jointly) are not simply shut out. The backdoor Roth route, a non-deductible Traditional contribution followed by a conversion, is why the calculator still shows a Traditional maximum even when Roth eligibility reads zero.
One more figure worth respecting: the limit is combined across every IRA you own, not per account. Splitting $4,000 into a Roth and $3,500 into a Traditional is fine; putting $7,500 in each is an excess contribution that draws a 6% excise tax every year until you remove it. When in doubt, treat the total line, not the individual account boxes, as the real ceiling.
IRA contribution limit calculator: frequently asked questions
What is the IRA contribution limit for 2026?
$7,500 for people under age 50; $8,600 for those age 50 or older. This is the combined limit across all your IRAs (Roth plus Traditional combined). Source: IRS Retirement Topics, IRA Contribution Limits (irs.gov).
Can I contribute to both a Roth and a Traditional IRA in the same year?
Yes, but your combined contributions to all IRAs cannot exceed the annual limit ($7,500, or $8,600 if you are age 50 or older). For example, you could put $4,000 in a Roth IRA and $3,500 in a Traditional IRA in the same year, as long as both are within your individual eligibility limits.
What is MAGI for IRA purposes?
MAGI stands for Modified Adjusted Gross Income. It is your AGI with certain deductions added back, such as the student loan interest deduction and IRA deductions. The IRS explains the calculation in Publication 590-A (irs.gov). Your tax software or accountant can calculate your exact MAGI.
What if I contribute more than the limit?
Excess contributions are subject to a 6% excise tax per year until corrected. To avoid the penalty, withdraw the excess contribution and any earnings on it before your tax-filing deadline (including extensions). IRS Publication 590-A (irs.gov) has full details on correcting excess contributions.
Official sources
- IRA contribution and income limits: IRS, Retirement Topics, IRA Contribution Limits.
- Excess contributions and deductibility rules: IRS Publication 590-A, Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 11 July 2026. See our methodology. General information, not financial or tax advice.