2026 Roth IRA Limits
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution limit | $7,000 | $7,500 |
| Age 50 or older | $8,000 | $8,600 |
| Phase-out, single or head of household | $150,000 to $165,000 | $153,000 to $168,000 |
| Phase-out, married filing jointly | $236,000 to $246,000 | $242,000 to $252,000 |
| Phase-out, married filing separately (lived together) | $0 to $10,000 | $0 to $10,000 |
The limit covers all your IRAs together: putting $3,000 in a traditional IRA leaves $4,500 of room for a Roth in 2026. You also can't contribute more than you earned from work that year, although a spouse who files jointly can use the couple's combined earnings.
How the Income Limit Works
Inside the phase-out range the limit shrinks gradually rather than disappearing. A single filer with $161,200 of modified AGI in 2026 is $8,200 into the $15,000-wide range, a share of 0.547. The limit drops by that share, $4,103, and the IRS worksheet rounds the result up to the next $10: $3,400.
Modified AGI for this purpose is usually your AGI with any traditional IRA deduction and student loan interest deduction added back. Income from converting a traditional IRA to a Roth doesn't count toward it.
How a Roth IRA Grows
You pay tax on the money before it goes in, and qualified withdrawals, including all the growth, come out tax-free. Contributing the maximum every year from age 30 to 65, with the catch-up from 50, at a 6% return after inflation, adds up to $280,100 of contributions and a balance of about $891,831 in today's dollars. The $611,731 of growth is never taxed.
Unlike a traditional IRA or 401(k), a Roth IRA has no required withdrawals during your lifetime, so the money can keep growing as long as you leave it there. To plan the rest of your retirement savings, use the 401(k) calculator and the retirement calculator.
Withdrawal Rules
- Contributions: come out at any time without tax or penalty. Withdrawals count as contributions first, then conversions, then earnings.
- Earnings: tax-free once you are 59½ and five years have passed since the start of the first year you contributed to any Roth IRA. Disability, death and a first home purchase (up to $10,000) also qualify.
- Earlier withdrawals of earnings: taxable, and generally subject to a 10% additional tax, unless an exception applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026?
Up to $7,500, or $8,600 if you're 50 or older by the end of the year, but never more than your taxable compensation. The limit is shared with traditional IRAs, and it shrinks at higher incomes. For 2025 it was $7,000 ($8,000 at 50 or older).
What are the Roth IRA income limits for 2026?
The amount you can contribute shrinks as modified AGI rises through $153,000 to $168,000 for single filers and heads of household, and $242,000 to $252,000 for married couples filing jointly. At the top of the range it's zero. Married people filing separately who lived together during the year phase out between $0 and $10,000.
Can I contribute to a Roth IRA if I have a 401(k) at work?
Yes. Being covered by a workplace plan affects whether you can deduct traditional IRA contributions, but the Roth IRA limit depends only on your income and your compensation.
Can I contribute for a spouse who doesn't work?
Yes, if you file a joint return. A spouse with little or no income can contribute based on the couple's combined compensation, so a married couple can put in up to $15,000 in total for 2026, more if either is 50 or older. The income limits still apply.
When can I take money out of a Roth IRA?
Your contributions can come out at any time without tax or penalty, because withdrawals are treated as coming from contributions first. Earnings come out tax-free once you are 59½ and it has been five years since the start of the first year you contributed to a Roth IRA. Taking earnings out earlier can mean income tax and, generally, a 10% additional tax, unless an exception applies.
What is the deadline for Roth IRA contributions?
You can contribute for a year until the due date of that year's tax return, not including extensions. For most people that means 2026 contributions can be made until April 15, 2027.
What happens if I contribute too much?
Excess contributions are taxed at 6% for each year they stay in the account. You avoid the tax by withdrawing the excess, and any earnings on it, by the due date of your return including extensions.