The Quick Number for 2026
For tax year 2026, the IRS lets most savers contribute up to $7,500 to a Roth IRA, up from $7,000 in 2025. If you are 50 or older, you can add a $1,100 catch-up, bringing the total to $8,600. These caps apply to your combined IRA contributions (traditional and Roth) for the year.
Those numbers are the easy part. The trickier piece is figuring out whether your income lets you contribute the full amount, a reduced amount, or nothing at all. Income limits, earned-income rules, and spousal rules can all shift your real ceiling.
Many first-time savers open their account at a low-cost broker like Robinhood, Fidelity, or Charles Schwab. The broker does not change your IRS limit, but it can affect fees and how easy it is to track contributions during tax season.
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The 2026 Roth IRA Contribution Limits
Here is the clean version.
- Under 50: $7,500 a year.
- 50 or older: $8,600 a year ($7,500 plus a $1,100 catch-up).
These amounts apply to all your IRAs combined. If you also have a traditional IRA and put $2,000 there, you can only put $5,500 in a Roth the same year (or $6,600 with catch-up).
The limits are tied to the calendar year, but you have until your tax filing deadline (typically April 15 of the next year) to make a contribution for the prior year. Pick the right tax year when you fund the account, since the broker will not always default to last year.
Income Phase-Outs in 2026
The IRS limits direct Roth IRA contributions for higher earners. Your full $7,500 (or $8,600) is available only if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is below the lower threshold for your filing status. After that, your allowed contribution phases down to zero.
Single or head of household
- Full contribution: MAGI under $153,000.
- Partial contribution: MAGI $153,000 to $168,000.
- No direct contribution: MAGI over $168,000.
Married filing jointly
- Full contribution: MAGI under $242,000.
- Partial contribution: MAGI $242,000 to $252,000.
- No direct contribution: MAGI over $252,000.
Married filing separately
- Phase-out starts at $0 and ends at $10,000.
- Most savers in this filing status can contribute very little, if anything, directly.
If you land in a partial-contribution band, the IRS provides a worksheet to calculate your reduced cap. Most brokers and tax software will do this math for you.
Earned Income Is Required
Roth IRA contributions must come from earned income. That means wages, salary, tips, self-employment income, or commissions. Investment income, rental income, and Social Security do not count.
Your contribution cannot exceed your earned income for the year. If you only made $4,000 from a side hustle, your Roth IRA contribution for that year tops out at $4,000, not $7,500.
Spousal Roth IRAs
If you file jointly and your spouse has little or no earned income, you can fund a spousal Roth IRA for them. The household must have enough earned income to cover both contributions. So a working spouse with $30,000 in W-2 wages and a non-working spouse can each get a $7,500 Roth IRA, as long as the joint MAGI is under the phase-out limit.
Spousal IRAs are a quiet powerhouse for couples where one partner takes time off for caregiving or school. Two accounts grow tax free instead of one.
What If You Earn Too Much
If your MAGI puts you over the Roth phase-out limit, the direct contribution path closes. A common workaround is the backdoor Roth: contribute to a traditional IRA (non-deductible) and convert it to a Roth shortly after. There are no income limits on conversions.
The backdoor is not free of friction. The pro rata rule can create unexpected taxes if you also hold pre-tax traditional IRA money. Many savers consult a tax professional before running a backdoor Roth for the first time. Tax rules can change, so consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Workplace Roth Options Are Separate
If you have a Roth 401k at work, that limit is completely separate from the Roth IRA cap. In 2026, you can defer up to $24,500 to a Roth 401k (or $32,500 with catch-up). Maxing both is possible and powerful if your income allows.
A Roth 401k also has no Roth IRA-style income phase-out. So if you earn too much for a direct Roth IRA, your workplace Roth 401k can still take the full contribution.
Common Mistakes That Lower Your Cap
- Forgetting to count traditional IRA contributions toward the same total.
- Assuming a year-end raise will not push you over the phase-out.
- Contributing without enough earned income to back the deposit.
- Letting the broker default to the current tax year when you meant the prior year.
- Missing the April 15 deadline for prior-year contributions.
A quick mid-year check, plus a December review of your W-2 estimate, is enough to catch most of these.
Picking a Broker for Your Roth
The broker affects fees, fund choice, and how easy contribution tracking is. If you want to compare one popular option, here is a Robinhood review covering its IRA match, fees, and investment menu.
For most savers, a no-fee account with broad fund choice and easy ACH funding is enough. The bigger drivers of retirement success are starting early, contributing consistently, and keeping costs low.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I contribute more than the limit if I missed prior years?
No. The IRS does not let you make up missed years. The $7,500 cap is per year and use it or lose it. Once you reach age 50 and unlock the catch-up, you can add the extra $1,100 in the current year, but you cannot retroactively fund years where you did not have an account.
Do employer matches count toward my Roth IRA limit?
No. Employer matches go to a workplace plan like a 401k, which has its own limit. They do not affect your separate Roth IRA cap. If you have both a workplace plan and a Roth IRA, you may be able to fund both fully in the same year.
What counts as modified adjusted gross income?
MAGI generally starts with your adjusted gross income (AGI) and adds back certain items like student loan interest, foreign earned income exclusion, and traditional IRA deductions. For most savers, MAGI is very close to AGI. Your tax software will calculate it for you, or you can check IRS Worksheet 2-1 in Publication 590-A.
Can I withdraw a contribution if I changed my mind?
Yes. You can pull out your direct Roth IRA contributions at any time, without tax or penalty, since you already paid tax on that money. Earnings are different and may be taxed and penalized if withdrawn before age 59 1/2 and before the five-year rule is met. Keep records of every contribution year.
