The IRA contribution limit for 2025 was $7,000, or $8,000 if you were 50 or older by year-end. For 2026, those amounts are $7,500 and $8,600. Use the year assigned to your contribution when checking your allowance, even if you made the deposit during the following calendar year.
IRA contribution limits: 2025 versus 2026
| Tax year | Under 50 | Additional amount at 50+ | Total at 50+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,000 | $1,000 | $8,000 |
| 2026 | $7,500 | $1,100 | $8,600 |
These are combined limits across your traditional and Roth IRAs, not a separate allowance for every account. Your eligible compensation can impose a lower limit. Qualifying rollover contributions are outside this regular contribution cap. See the IRS contribution rules.
For example, a 45-year-old eligible for the full 2025 allowance who contributed $4,000 to a traditional IRA had $3,000 remaining for a Roth IRA. Opening an account at another brokerage would not create more room.
Roth IRA income eligibility
Your filing status and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) determine whether you can contribute directly to a Roth IRA. Within a phase-out range, the permitted contribution decreases; at the upper endpoint it reaches zero.
| Filing status | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Single or head of household | $150,000–$165,000 | $153,000–$168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $236,000–$246,000 | $242,000–$252,000 |
For married taxpayers filing separately who lived with their spouse during the year, the range is $0–$10,000. Different treatment applies if you lived apart for the entire year. Consult the IRS Publication 590-A worksheets for the actual permitted amount.
Traditional IRA contributions and deductions are different
Being eligible to contribute does not automatically make your deposit deductible. Workplace retirement coverage for you or your spouse can limit the deduction.
| Situation | 2025 MAGI | 2026 MAGI |
|---|---|---|
| Single; contributor covered at work | $79,000–$89,000 | $81,000–$91,000 |
| Joint return; contributor covered at work | $126,000–$146,000 | $129,000–$149,000 |
| Joint return; only contributor's spouse covered | $236,000–$246,000 | $242,000–$252,000 |
These tables cover common situations, not every filing status. The IRS annual limits announcement provides the year-by-year figures and separate-return rules.
Deadlines and excess contributions
The normal deadline for a 2025 IRA contribution was April 15, 2026; an income-tax filing extension does not ordinarily extend the contribution deadline. Specific IRS relief can change deadlines for eligible taxpayers. Tell your custodian which tax year a deposit is for. Pension income and Social Security benefits generally do not count as compensation for IRA contributions. A qualifying joint filer may instead use the spousal IRA rules. See Publication 590-A.
If you relied on the incorrect earlier figure of $7,500 for 2025, review your actual deposits and eligibility. An excess contribution can trigger a 6% annual excise tax while it remains uncorrected. Ask the custodian about the appropriate correction and associated earnings rather than making an ordinary withdrawal without instructions. The IRS explains the excess-contribution rules.
A practical annual review
- Add up deposits at every IRA provider by tax year.
- Check your age at year-end, compensation, filing status and projected MAGI.
- Confirm workplace plan coverage before claiming a deduction.
- Keep contribution confirmations with your tax records and revisit eligibility after a bonus or other income change.
Before considering a conversion as an alternative to a direct Roth contribution, review how the IRA pro-rata rule works. A contribution limit table alone cannot determine the tax cost of a conversion.
View changes from the September 2026 update
- Corrected the 2025 IRA contribution limits, Roth income thresholds and traditional IRA deduction ranges.
- Added separate 2026 comparison tables, plus guidance on contribution deadlines and reviewing excess deposits.
- Added links to the relevant IRS sources.
