IRA Contribution Limits for 2026, and the Phase-Outs
$7,500 for 2026, but whether you can deduct it depends on your income.
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Daniel Okonkwo Editor, investing and retirementDaniel covers retirement accounts and education savings, and keeps the contribution limits current each year.
You can contribute $7,500 to an IRA in 2026, up from $7,000, plus a $1,100 catch-up contribution from age 50. If you are covered by a workplace retirement plan, the deduction for a traditional IRA phases out between $81,000 and $91,000 of income for single filers.
The short version
- The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,500 across all traditional and Roth IRAs you own combined, not per account.
- Savers aged 50 and over can add a catch-up of $1,100, taking the total to $8,600.
- If you are covered by a workplace retirement plan, the traditional IRA deduction phases out between $81,000 and $91,000 of income for single filers and $129,000 to $149,000 for joint filers.
- An IRA limit is separate from the $24,500 401(k) limit, so a saver can use both in the same year.
- You need earned income at least equal to your contribution, though a working spouse's income can support a contribution for a non-working spouse.
Key figures · 2026
- IRA contribution limit
- $7,500
- IRS
- Catch-up, age 50+
- $1,100
- IRS
- Deduction phase-out (single)
- $81,000–$91,000
- IRS
- Deduction phase-out (joint)
- $129,000–$149,000
- IRS
Contents
How much can I put in an IRA in 2026?
$7,500, up from $7,000 in 2025. From age 50 you can add a $1,100 catch-up, for a total of $8,600.
That limit is shared across all your IRAs. Having both a traditional and a Roth IRA does not double it.
Can I deduct a traditional IRA contribution?
If neither you nor your spouse is covered by a workplace retirement plan, yes, in full, at any income.
If you are covered by one, the deduction phases out:
| Filing status | Phase-out range |
|---|---|
| Single, covered by a plan | $81,000 to $91,000 |
| Married filing jointly, contributor covered | $129,000 to $149,000 |
Below the range you deduct in full; above it you deduct nothing, though you can still contribute.
Traditional or Roth?
The question is whether your tax rate is higher now or in retirement.
- Traditional: deduct now, pay tax on withdrawals.
- Roth: no deduction now, withdrawals are tax-free.
Someone early in their career, in the 12% bracket, is usually better off with a Roth. Someone at their peak earnings in the 32% bracket is usually better off deducting.
What if I earn too much for a Roth?
Roth IRAs have their own income limits. Above them, many savers use a backdoor Roth, contributing to a non-deductible traditional IRA and converting it. The pro-rata rule makes this messy if you hold other pre-tax IRA money, so check before you do it.
When is the deadline?
You can contribute for a tax year until the federal filing deadline the following April, so 2026 contributions can be made until April 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IRA limit for 2026?
$7,500, up from $7,000, plus a $1,100 catch-up contribution from age 50.
Is the limit per account?
No. It is shared across all your IRAs combined, traditional and Roth together.
Can I deduct my contribution?
In full if you have no workplace plan. If you do, the deduction phases out between $81,000 and $91,000 for single filers.
Should I choose traditional or Roth?
Roth generally wins if your tax rate is lower now than it will be in retirement; traditional wins if the reverse.
Can I contribute to both an IRA and a 401(k)?
Yes. The limits are separate, $24,500 for a 401(k) and $7,500 for an IRA in 2026.
When is the contribution deadline?
The federal filing deadline of the following year, so April 2027 for the 2026 tax year.
Sources
Every figure on this page is attributed to a named source with the date it took effect. Our reviewers check them against the primary source before publication.
About our expert
Editor, investing and retirement
Experience
Daniel edits the investing and family-money desks: 401(k) and IRA limits, catch-up rules, Roth versus traditional, 529 plans and the gift-tax treatment that sits behind them.
Most of what he edits is annual-limit content, which means it is wrong for a predictable stretch of every year unless somebody is watching. He tracks the IRS release schedule so the pages move when the figures do, not weeks later.
Areas of expertise
- 401(k) and IRA
- Retirement limits
- 529 plans
- Capital gains
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