For 2026, you can contribute up to $7,500 in total across all your traditional and Roth IRAs, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older. You also cannot contribute more than your taxable compensation for the year. Roth eligibility phases out at higher incomes, and the traditional IRA deduction can shrink if you have a workplace plan.
You are setting up automatic transfers for next year, or you are about to make a lump-sum deposit and want to be sure you are not putting in too much. Maybe you changed jobs, got a raise or turned 50, and the numbers you remember no longer apply. This page gathers the 2026 figures in one place, with the source for each.
How much can you put in an IRA in 2026?
The 2026 limit is $7,500, up from $7,000 in 2025. According to the IRS page on IRA contribution limits, your total contributions to all traditional and Roth IRAs combined cannot exceed $7,500 ($8,600 if you are 50 or older), or your taxable compensation for the year if that is less.
The key word is combined. Having a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA does not give you two $7,500 limits. You can split the amount any way you like, but the total is capped.
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| IRA limit (under 50) | $7,000 | $7,500 |
| Catch-up (50 and older) | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| Total at 50 and older | $8,000 | $8,600 |
What is the IRA catch-up contribution for 2026?
The catch-up amount for people 50 and older is $1,100 in 2026. The IRS announcement of the 2026 limits explains that the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 added a cost-of-living adjustment to the IRA catch-up, which had been fixed at $1,000 for years. You qualify for 2026 if you turn 50 by the end of the year.
What are the Roth IRA income limits for 2026?
Roth IRA eligibility phases out between $153,000 and $168,000 of modified adjusted gross income for single filers and heads of household, and between $242,000 and $252,000 for married couples filing jointly, according to the same IRS release.
Below the range
You can make the full Roth contribution, up to $7,500 or $8,600.
Inside the range
Your allowed Roth contribution is reduced proportionally. Any amount you cannot put in the Roth can still go into a traditional IRA, as long as the combined total stays under the limit.
Above the range
You cannot contribute directly to a Roth IRA for 2026. Some people use a Roth conversion instead, which has its own tax consequences and is worth discussing with a tax professional.
Married filing separately
For a married person filing a separate return, the phase-out range is $0 to $10,000 and is not adjusted for inflation, so most people in this situation cannot contribute directly to a Roth. IRS Publication 590-A covers the exceptions.
Can you deduct traditional IRA contributions in 2026?
Anyone with taxable compensation can contribute to a traditional IRA, but the tax deduction depends on workplace plan coverage and income. If neither you nor your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the full contribution is deductible regardless of income. If coverage applies, the 2026 phase-out ranges from the IRS are:
| Your situation (2026) | Deduction phases out between |
|---|---|
| Single, covered by a workplace plan | $81,000 and $91,000 |
| Married filing jointly, contributor is covered | $129,000 and $149,000 |
| Not covered, but spouse is covered | $242,000 and $252,000 |
| Married filing separately, covered | $0 and $10,000 |
A nondeductible traditional contribution is still allowed above these ranges. You file Form 8606 to track the after-tax basis so you are not taxed on it twice when you withdraw it.
A worked example
Say you are 52, single, covered by a 401(k) at work, and expect modified adjusted gross income of $86,000 in 2026.
- Your IRA limit: $7,500 plus the $1,100 catch-up, so $8,600.
- Roth eligibility: $86,000 is below the $153,000 start of the single phase-out, so you could put the full $8,600 in a Roth IRA.
- Traditional deduction: $86,000 sits halfway through the $81,000 to $91,000 range, so roughly half of a traditional contribution would be deductible.
Whether Roth or traditional makes more sense depends on your tax rate today versus what you expect in retirement. Our guide to choosing a financial advisor covers how to find a planner who can run that comparison with your actual numbers.
When is the deadline for 2026 IRA contributions?
You can make contributions for a tax year up to that year's federal tax filing deadline, not counting extensions. The IRS year-end IRA reminders give the pattern: 2024 contributions could be made until April 15, 2025. For 2026, that generally means the April 2027 filing deadline. If you deposit between January and April, tell your custodian which year the contribution is for.
What happens if you contribute too much?
Excess IRA contributions are taxed at 6% for each year they stay in the account. The IRS explains that you avoid the tax by withdrawing the excess, plus any earnings on it, by your tax return due date including extensions. Common causes are contributing to both IRA types without adding them up, contributing more than you earned, or putting money in a Roth after income rose into the phase-out range.
Do other limits apply to your workplace plan?
Yes, and they are separate. The 2026 limit for employee deferrals to 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans and the Thrift Savings Plan is $24,500, with an $8,000 catch-up at 50 or older and a higher $11,250 catch-up for ages 60 to 63, per the IRS release. Contributing to a 401(k) does not reduce your IRA limit, though it can affect the traditional IRA deduction as shown above.
IRA money is also not limited to stocks and funds. Some investors hold alternatives such as private placements through self-directed IRAs, which come with extra custodian, valuation and prohibited-transaction rules worth understanding first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2026 IRA limit per account or per person?
Per person. The $7,500 (or $8,600) cap covers all of your traditional and Roth IRAs combined. A married couple can each contribute the full amount to their own IRAs, even if only one spouse has earned income, as long as the joint return shows enough compensation.
Is there an age limit for contributing to a traditional IRA?
No. Since 2020 there has been no age limit on regular contributions to traditional or Roth IRAs, according to the IRS. You still need taxable compensation.
Do rollovers count toward the IRA contribution limit?
No. The IRS states that the contribution limit does not apply to rollover contributions, such as moving money from an old 401(k) into an IRA.
When will the 2027 IRA limits be announced?
The IRS usually publishes the next year's retirement plan limits in the fall. The 2026 figures were announced on November 13, 2025. Check IRS.gov before setting up 2027 contributions.
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