Roth IRA Contribution Limits & Income Limits 2026

The IRS adjusts Roth IRA contribution limits and income phase-out thresholds annually for inflation. For 2026, both limits increased, giving savers more room to build tax-free retirement wealth.

But here’s the catch: if your income exceeds the phase-out range, you can’t contribute directly to a Roth IRA at all. And unlike 401(k) limits that are straightforward, Roth IRA eligibility involves calculating your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) correctly.

This guide covers the 2026 numbers, shows you exactly how to calculate your allowable contribution, and explains what to do if you earn too much for direct contributions.

What are the 2026 Roth IRA contribution limits?

For 2026, the Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,500 (up from $7,000 in 2025). If you’re 50 or older, the catch-up contribution increases to $1,100, bringing your total limit to $8,600. However, your ability to contribute depends on income: single filers with MAGI above $168,000 and married filing jointly above $252,000 can’t contribute directly. Those in the phase-out range ($153,000-$168,000 single, $242,000-$252,000 MFJ) get a reduced contribution. The backdoor Roth IRA strategy remains available for high earners who exceed these income limits.

Key Takeaways

• 2026 limit is $7,500 – Up from $7,000 in 2025, plus $1,100 catch-up if you’re 50+
• Income limits increased – Single phase-out now $153,000-$168,000; MFJ now $242,000-$252,000
• MAGI determines eligibility – Not gross income; certain deductions reduce MAGI
• Phase-out math is proportional – Partial contributions allowed within the range
• Backdoor Roth works – High earners can still access Roth through non-deductible Traditional IRA + conversion
• April 15, 2027 deadline – You have until tax filing deadline to make 2026 contributions

2026 Roth IRA Contribution Limits

The IRS increased the annual IRA contribution limit by $500 for 2026. This applies to all IRA types combined, including Traditional and Roth.

Standard Contribution Limits

The catch-up contribution for those 50+ increased from $1,000 to $1,100 for 2026.

Important Rules

Combined limit across all IRAs: The $7,500 (or $8,600) limit applies to your total contributions across ALL Traditional and Roth IRAs you own. You can’t contribute $7,500 to a Roth AND $7,500 to a Traditional IRA in the same year.

Earned income requirement: You must have earned income (wages, self-employment income, alimony received under pre-2019 agreements) at least equal to your contribution. No earned income = no IRA contribution.

Contribution deadline: You have until April 15, 2027, to make contributions for tax year 2026. This gives you flexibility to wait until you know your final MAGI before deciding how much you can contribute.

2026 Roth IRA Income Limits

Your Modified Adjusted Gross Income determines whether you can contribute directly to a Roth IRA and how much. The IRS sets different thresholds based on filing status.

Income Phase-Out Ranges

Year-Over-Year Changes

The married filing separately threshold never adjusts. If you’re married but file separately, you’re essentially locked out of direct Roth contributions unless your MAGI is under $10,000.

What Counts as MAGI for Roth IRA

Your Modified Adjusted Gross Income for Roth IRA purposes starts with your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI, line 11 on Form 1040) and adds back certain deductions.

MAGI Calculation

Start with AGI, then add back:

• Traditional IRA deductions you claimed
• Student loan interest deduction
• Tuition and fees deduction
• Foreign earned income exclusion
• Foreign housing exclusion
• Exclusion of qualified savings bond interest
• Exclusion of employer-provided adoption benefits

What Doesn’t Count as MAGI

These common items do NOT get added back:

• Pre-tax 401(k) contributions (they already reduced your AGI)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions
• Pre-tax health insurance premiums
• Dependent care FSA contributions
• 401(k) catch-up contributions

Key insight for business owners: Your pre-tax solo 401(k) contributions reduce MAGI. A business owner with $300,000 gross income who contributes $23,500 to a solo 401(k) has a MAGI of approximately $276,500 before other adjustments. That could be the difference between Roth eligibility and phase-out.

Common MAGI Scenarios

How to Calculate Your Reduced Contribution

If your MAGI falls within the phase-out range, you can make a partial contribution. The calculation is straightforward once you know the numbers.

Phase-Out Formula

Reduced Contribution = Full Contribution Limit x (Phase-Out Ceiling – Your MAGI) / Phase-Out Range

The phase-out range is:

• Single/HOH: $15,000 ($168,000 – $153,000)
• MFJ: $10,000 ($252,000 – $242,000)

Calculation Example: Single Filer

Scenario: Sarah, age 45, has MAGI of $160,000 for 2026.

Step 1: Determine where she falls in the phase-out

• Phase-out ceiling: $168,000
• Her MAGI: $160,000
• Remaining room: $168,000 – $160,000 = $8,000

Step 2: Calculate reduction ratio

• Phase-out range: $15,000
• Remaining room: $8,000
• Ratio: $8,000 / $15,000 = 53.3%

Step 3: Apply to contribution limit

• Full limit: $7,500
• Reduced limit: $7,500 x 53.3% = $4,000 (rounded up)

Sarah can contribute $4,000 to her Roth IRA for 2026.

Calculation Example: Married Filing Jointly

Scenario: Tom and Lisa, both under 50, have combined MAGI of $248,000 for 2026.

Step 1: Determine where they fall in the phase-out

• Phase-out ceiling: $252,000
• Their MAGI: $248,000
• Remaining room: $252,000 – $248,000 = $4,000

Step 2: Calculate reduction ratio

• Phase-out range: $10,000
• Remaining room: $4,000
• Ratio: $4,000 / $10,000 = 40%

Step 3: Apply to contribution limit

• Full limit: $7,500 per person
• Reduced limit: $7,500 x 40% = $3,000 per person

Tom and Lisa can each contribute $3,000 to their Roth IRAs for 2026 ($6,000 total household).

Rounding Rule

The IRS requires you to round the reduced contribution to the nearest $10. If your calculation results in $3,456, you’d round to $3,460.

Minimum contribution rule: If your reduced limit calculates to less than $200, you can still contribute $200.

Backdoor Roth IRA for High Earners

If your income exceeds the Roth IRA limits, you’re not locked out of Roth contributions entirely. The backdoor Roth IRA strategy provides a workaround.

How the Backdoor Roth Works

1. Contribute to Traditional IRA – Make a non-deductible contribution (no income limits for non-deductible Traditional IRA contributions)
2. Convert to Roth IRA – Transfer the funds from Traditional to Roth shortly after
3. Pay minimal tax – If converted quickly and no pre-tax IRA money exists, taxes are minimal

The Pro-Rata Rule Warning

If you have existing pre-tax money in Traditional, Rollover, or SEP IRAs, the pro-rata rule applies. You can’t just convert “the non-deductible portion.” The IRS treats all your traditional IRA money as one pool, and each conversion includes a proportional share of pre-tax and after-tax money.

Example: You have $93,000 in a rollover IRA (pre-tax) and add $7,500 in non-deductible contributions for a backdoor Roth. Only 7.5% of your conversion is tax-free. The remaining 92.5% is taxable.

Solution for business owners: Roll your pre-tax IRAs into a solo 401(k) or employer 401(k) before doing the backdoor Roth. 401(k) balances don’t count toward the pro-rata calculation. This gives you a clean backdoor Roth path.

For a detailed comparison of backdoor Roth and mega backdoor Roth strategies, see our Roth vs Mega Backdoor Roth guide.

Spousal Roth IRA Contributions

A non-working spouse can still make Roth IRA contributions based on the working spouse’s income. This is one of the few ways someone without earned income can contribute to a retirement account.

Spousal IRA Rules

Earned income requirement: The working spouse must have earned income at least equal to BOTH spouses’ combined IRA contributions.

Example: John earns $80,000. His spouse Amy has no earned income. John can contribute $7,500 to his Roth IRA AND Amy can contribute $7,500 to her Roth IRA, because John’s $80,000 exceeds their combined $15,000 contribution.

Age requirements: The contributing spouse must be under 73 (the RMD age) for Traditional IRA contributions, but there’s no age limit for Roth IRA contributions as of 2024.

Filing Status Requirement

Spousal IRA contributions require you to file a joint tax return. If you’re married but file separately, you can’t make spousal contributions.

Income Limits Still Apply

The household MAGI determines Roth eligibility for BOTH spouses. If your combined MAGI exceeds $252,000 for MFJ, neither spouse can contribute directly to a Roth IRA, regardless of individual income levels.

Roth IRA vs 401(k) Contribution Limits

Understanding how Roth IRA limits compare to 401(k) limits helps you prioritize your retirement savings.

2026 Limit Comparison

For a deeper comparison of Roth vs traditional options, see our Roth 401(k) vs Traditional 401(k) guide.

Which to Fund First?

General guidance for most business owners:

1. 401(k) match first – If your employer matches, get the full match
2. HSA if eligible – Triple tax advantage (deduction, growth, and qualified withdrawals tax-free)
3. Backdoor Roth or Roth IRA – Tax-free growth, no RMDs
4. Max 401(k) – Pre-tax savings reduce current-year taxes
5. After-tax 401(k) with mega backdoor – If your plan allows it

The right sequence depends on your current tax bracket, expected retirement tax situation, and whether you have access to mega backdoor Roth options. Schedule a consultation for personalized retirement tax planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I contribute to both a Roth IRA and Traditional IRA in the same year?

Yes, but your combined contributions can’t exceed the annual limit ($7,500 for 2026, or $8,600 if 50+). You could contribute $3,000 to a Traditional IRA and $4,500 to a Roth IRA, for example. The total just can’t exceed the limit.

What happens if I contribute too much to my Roth IRA?

You have until the tax filing deadline (including extensions) to remove excess contributions plus earnings. If you don’t, the IRS charges a 6% penalty on excess amounts each year they remain in the account. You can also recharacterize excess Roth contributions as Traditional IRA contributions.

Do Roth IRA conversions count toward the contribution limit?

No. Conversions and contributions are tracked separately. You can contribute $7,500 AND convert any amount in the same year. The contribution limit only applies to new money going into IRAs.

Can I make a Roth IRA contribution if all my income is from self-employment?

Yes. Self-employment income (Schedule C profit) counts as earned income for IRA purposes. However, your MAGI includes your self-employment income minus the deductible portion of self-employment tax, so calculate carefully.

Is the 2026 Roth IRA deadline really April 15, 2027?

Yes. You have until April 15, 2027 (tax filing deadline for 2026 returns) to make IRA contributions for the 2026 tax year. Extensions for filing your tax return do NOT extend the IRA contribution deadline. April 15 is the hard deadline.

Can I contribute to a Roth IRA if I have a 401(k) at work?

Absolutely. Having a workplace 401(k) doesn’t affect Roth IRA eligibility. It does affect whether Traditional IRA contributions are deductible (there are separate income limits for that), but Roth IRA contribution eligibility is based solely on MAGI, regardless of workplace retirement plan coverage.

What’s the difference between Roth IRA income limits and contribution limits?

Contribution limits ($7,500 for 2026) tell you the maximum you can put in if you’re eligible. Income limits determine IF you’re eligible to contribute directly. If your MAGI is under $153,000 (single) or $242,000 (MFJ), you can contribute the full $7,500. Above those thresholds, your allowable contribution decreases until it hits zero.

Can I do a backdoor Roth IRA every year?

Yes. There’s no limit to how many years you can do the backdoor Roth strategy. As long as you have earned income and make non-deductible Traditional IRA contributions followed by conversions, you can repeat annually. Just ensure you don’t have pre-tax IRA money creating pro-rata issues.

Plan Your Roth Contributions

Roth IRA limits are straightforward if your income is clearly below the threshold. The complexity comes when you’re in the phase-out range or above the limits entirely.

For 2026, know these numbers:

• $7,500 contribution limit ($8,600 if 50+)
• $153,000-$168,000 single phase-out
• $242,000-$252,000 married filing jointly phase-out

If you’re above these limits, the backdoor Roth remains your path to tax-free retirement savings. Just watch for the pro-rata rule if you have existing pre-tax IRAs.

Not sure whether direct Roth, backdoor Roth, or mega backdoor Roth makes sense for your situation? Schedule a retirement tax planning consultation and we’ll map out the most tax-efficient contribution strategy for your specific income level and retirement goals.

Related Guides:

• Retirement Tax Planning Hub
• Backdoor Roth vs Mega Backdoor Roth
• The Pro-Rata Rule Explained
• Roth 401(k) vs Traditional 401(k)
• Solo 401(k) Roth Contributions