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For 2026 you can put up to $7,500 into an IRA, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older. Whether that money can go into a Roth depends on income: the Roth IRA limits start shrinking at $153,000 for single filers and $242,000 for married couples filing jointly. The IRS has not yet announced 2027 numbers.
General information, not tax or financial advice.
Key numbers at a glance
| Item (tax year 2026) | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IRA contribution limit | $7,500 (up from $7,000) | IRS, Nov. 13, 2025 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and over | $1,100 (up from $1,000) | IRS |
| Roth phase-out, single or head of household | $153,000 to $168,000 | IRS |
| Roth phase-out, married filing jointly | $242,000 to $252,000 | IRS |
| Traditional IRA deduction phase-out, single with workplace plan | $81,000 to $91,000 | IRS |
What the 2026 Roth IRA limits are
The IRS set the figures in an announcement dated Nov. 13, 2025. The annual contribution limit rose to $7,500 from $7,000, and the catch-up for people 50 and older rose to $1,100 from $1,000, which makes $8,600 the most a 50-plus saver can contribute in total. Those Roth IRA limits are a single ceiling shared by your traditional and Roth IRAs, so splitting money between the two does not raise it.
Contributions for tax year 2026 can generally be made until the federal filing deadline in April 2027, so there is no need to hurry to hit the cap before Dec. 31. Waiting can still cost you months of potential growth, which is why some savers spread contributions through the year.
Who can contribute to a Roth
Roth IRA eligibility is income-based. For 2026 the phase-out range is $153,000 to $168,000 for single filers and heads of household, and $242,000 to $252,000 for married couples filing jointly. Below the bottom of the range you can contribute the full amount. Inside the range the allowed contribution shrinks, and above the top you cannot contribute directly. A large bonus or a capital gain can push a household into the range in a year when salary alone would not.
If you land in the range, a tax preparer or the IRS instructions for IRAs can work out your reduced limit. Contributing more than you are allowed can bring a tax penalty, so check before you contribute late in the year.
Roth versus traditional: the deduction rules
A traditional IRA works differently. The tax deduction fades if you or a spouse are covered by a workplace plan. The IRS lists the 2026 phase-out at $81,000 to $91,000 for single filers covered by a plan, and $129,000 to $149,000 for joint filers when the contributor is covered. If the contributor is not covered but the spouse is, the range is $242,000 to $252,000.
The Saver’s Credit is a separate break for lower earners. For 2026 the income ceilings are $80,500 for married couples filing jointly, $60,375 for heads of household and $40,250 for single filers and married people filing separately. It is worth a look before assuming an IRA contribution only helps later.
What to expect for 2027
The IRS announced the 2026 limits on Nov. 13, 2025, and 2027 figures were not available as of Oct. 27, 2026. Cost-of-living adjustments are based on inflation measures, so the Roth IRA limits can rise, stay flat or move in odd increments. Our own look at the projected 2027 401(k) limit explains what is official and what is an estimate, and the same caution applies to IRAs. If you plan around a projection, treat it as a guess until the IRS confirms.
Savers who also use a health account should note the separate 2027 HSA limits, which are already published.
Editor’s take
The simplest way to waste a Roth is to find out in April that income was too high. If you are near the phase-out range, estimate your income in December and decide then whether to contribute, rather than guessing in January. And for anyone under the limit, steady monthly contributions beat a last-minute lump sum most years. Read the Roth IRA limits as a ceiling, not a target.
