Does income limit what I can put in a Roth IRA in 2026?
You can contribute the full $7,500 ($8,600 at 50 or older) if your modified AGI is below the start of your range, and nothing once you reach the end. Between the two you get a partial amount. As of November 3, 2026, the IRS had not published 2027 limits.
| Filing status | Full contribution below | No contribution at or above |
|---|---|---|
| Single or head of household | $153,000 | $168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 | $252,000 |
| Married filing separately, lived with spouse | $0 | $10,000 |
If you file separately but didn't live with your spouse at any time during the year, you use the single range. This calculator's menu uses the lived-together range, so pick Single in that case.
| Single MAGI | Joint MAGI | Limit under 50 | Limit at 50 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| $153,000 | $242,000 | $7,500 | $8,600 |
| $156,000 | $244,000 | $6,000 | $6,880 |
| $159,000 | $246,000 | $4,500 | $5,160 |
| $162,000 | $248,000 | $3,000 | $3,440 |
| $165,000 | $250,000 | $1,500 | $1,720 |
| $166,500 | $251,000 | $750 | $860 |
| $168,000 | $252,000 | $0 | $0 |
The IRS worksheet multiplies your limit by the share of the range still above your income, rounds up to the next $10, and raises anything between $0 and $200 to $200. So $100 below the top of the single range, you can still put in $200.
Reduced limit = limit × (top of range − MAGI) ÷ (top of range − bottom of range)At $160,000, a single filer under 50 gets $4,000. At 55, the same income allows $4,590. Your contribution also can't exceed your taxable compensation, and modified AGI isn't the number on your pay stub. It starts from your tax return's AGI, then adjusts for items such as conversion income and certain deductions. Over-contributing costs a 6% excise tax unless you withdraw the excess by the deadline.
Can I deduct a Traditional IRA contribution?
If neither you nor your spouse has a workplace plan, yes, at any income. Otherwise your deduction phases out in the ranges below, and if you have a workplace plan yourself, those sit far below the Roth ranges.
| Your situation | Full deduction below | No deduction at or above |
|---|---|---|
| You have a workplace plan, single or head of household | $81,000 | $91,000 |
| You have a workplace plan, married filing jointly | $129,000 | $149,000 |
| Only your spouse has a plan, married filing jointly | $242,000 | $252,000 |
| You have a plan, married filing separately | $0 | $10,000 |
Here's the surprise: a single filer with a 401(k) at $85,000 can put the full $7,500 in a Roth but deduct only $4,500 of a Traditional contribution. At the tool's starting income of $95,000 with a workplace plan, the deduction is $0. You can still contribute without deducting, but you must file Form 8606 for that year, or the money can be taxed again when you withdraw it.
Roth or Traditional: which leaves you more after tax?
Roth tends to win when your tax rate is higher later, and Traditional when it's higher now. The table uses the tool's defaults: age 35 to 67, $7,500 a year, an example 7% return, and a fully deductible contribution. It starts from $0, because the tool treats an existing balance as Roth on one side and taxable on the other, which tilts the result toward Roth.
| Tax rates | Roth | Traditional | More after tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12% now, 22% later | $884,501 | $775,757 | Roth |
| 22% now, 22% later | $884,501 | $847,296 | Roth |
| 22% now, 12% later | $884,501 | $935,746 | Traditional |
| 24% now, 15% later | $884,501 | $923,519 | Traditional |
| 32% now, 22% later | $884,501 | $918,835 | Traditional |
A Traditional deduction only helps if you keep the tax saving invested. The tool assumes you do, in a taxable account that loses 15% of its growth to tax. That's why Roth still wins when rates match. Spend the saving instead, and Traditional at 22% in both periods leaves $689,911 against $884,501 for Roth.
When your deduction is limited, only the earnings on nondeductible contributions are taxed at your later rate, because that money was already taxed going in. The tool handles this for you, and its "Deductible amount" figure shows how much of your contribution is deductible.
For high earners, compare this with a Roth or traditional 401(k) too. A 401(k) has no income limit for Roth contributions.
What will a Roth IRA be worth with monthly contributions?
At an example 7% return, $500 a month for 30 years reaches about $606,438, tax free if withdrawals are qualified. Stocks can lose money, so this isn't a forecast, and the deposits below stay flat rather than rising with limits.
| Per month | 10 years | 20 years | 30 years | 40 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $17,740 | $52,638 | $121,288 | $256,331 |
| $250 | $44,351 | $131,596 | $303,219 | $640,829 |
| $500 | $88,702 | $263,191 | $606,438 | $1,281,657 |
| $625 | $110,877 | $328,989 | $758,048 | $1,602,072 |
| $717 | $127,139 | $377,241 | $869,228 | $1,837,042 |
The last two rows are the 2026 limits. The calculator stops at your retirement age, so change "Retirement age" or "Expected annual return" to see other cases.
When can I take money out, and what will it cost?
You can take out your own Roth contributions at any time without income tax, since they come out first. Earnings are different. They're tax free only in a qualified distribution, which means five years after your first Roth contribution year, and age 59½, disability, death, or a first home up to a $10,000 lifetime limit.
Say a $20,000 Roth holds $15,000 of contributions. At 40, you withdraw $18,000. The first $15,000 is free, and the other $3,000 is earnings, which may owe income tax plus a 10% additional tax. In the 22% bracket, that's $960.
- Traditional IRA: withdrawals are ordinary income, except for any nondeductible part. Before 59½, a 10% additional tax applies unless an exception fits.
- Exceptions differ from a 401(k). IRAs allow first-home (up to $10,000) and higher-education exceptions. They don't have the age-55 job-separation exception a 401(k) has.
- Required distributions: Traditional IRAs must start paying out at 73 if you were born from 1951 to 1958, or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. Born in 1959? Check with the IRS or a tax professional. Roth IRAs have none during your lifetime.
The tool simplifies conversions, withdrawals, and required distributions, and it can't see your tax return. If you're near a phase-out or planning a conversion, a tax professional can check the numbers, and IRS Tax Counseling for the Elderly offers free retirement tax help from age 60.
Common questions
Can my child or teenager have a Roth IRA?
Yes, if they have taxable compensation, such as wages from a job. Roth contributions have no age limit, and the cap is the smaller of the 2026 limit or what they earned. Ask the provider how it handles accounts for minors. Set "Current age" to theirs to see the long-run effect.
What is a backdoor Roth IRA?
It's a nondeductible Traditional contribution followed by a conversion to Roth, used by people above the income limit. A conversion is taxed except for any return of basis. If you hold pre-tax money in a Traditional IRA, part of the conversion can be taxable, and Form 8606 does that math. Get tax advice before doing this.
What is the deadline for an IRA contribution?
Your tax return's due date, not counting extensions, which is April 15 of the following year for most filers. So 2026 contributions can generally be made until about April 15, 2027.
Can I contribute to an IRA for a spouse who does not work?
Yes, if you file jointly. A spouse with little or no pay can contribute based on the couple's combined compensation, up to the regular limit, so a couple under 50 can put in up to $15,000 in 2026, subject to the same income rules.
Is there a government match for IRA savers?
Lower-income savers may qualify. For 2026, the Saver's Credit covers income up to $40,250 for single filers, $60,375 for heads of household, and $80,500 for joint filers. Starting with 2027 contributions, the IRS says a Saver's Match of up to $1,000 a person will be paid into your account.
Can I contribute to a Roth IRA if I make $200,000?
It depends on how you file. In 2026, a single filer at that modified AGI can put in $0, while a joint filer under 50 can put in $7,500. Salary isn't the test, so a traditional 401(k) contribution that lowers your AGI may also lower your modified AGI.
Sources
- 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500 (IR-2025-111) · Internal Revenue Service
- Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements · Internal Revenue Service
- Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements · Internal Revenue Service
- Retirement topics: Exceptions to tax on early distributions · Internal Revenue Service
- Internal Revenue Bulletin 2024-33: Required Minimum Distributions final regulations · Internal Revenue Service
- Saver's Match · Internal Revenue Service