2026 Contribution Limits
| Age | Annual Contribution Limit |
|---|---|
| Under 50 | $7,000 |
| 50 and older (catch-up) | $8,000 |
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-40. You must have earned income equal to or greater than your contribution.
2026 Income Phase-Out Ranges
| Filing Status | Phase-Out Begins | No Contribution Above |
|---|---|---|
| Single / Head of Household | $150,000 | $165,000 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $236,000 | $246,000 |
| Married Filing Separately | $0 | $10,000 |
MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) is used. Verify at irs.gov.
Key Rules and Strategies
Earned income requirement: You can only contribute up to your earned income. A student earning $4,000 can contribute at most $4,000 to a Roth IRA. Someone with no earned income cannot contribute at all (investment income doesn’t count).
Deadline: Roth IRA contributions for the 2026 tax year can be made up to April 15, 2027.
Too high an income? Use the backdoor Roth IRA — contribute to a non-deductible Traditional IRA, then convert to Roth. No income limit applies to conversions. See our guide at backdoor Roth IRA guide.
Spousal IRA: A non-working spouse can contribute to a Roth IRA if the working spouse has sufficient earned income. Each spouse has their own $7,000 limit — a couple can contribute $14,000 total.
Global Equivalents
UK: The Stocks and Shares ISA is the UK equivalent — £20,000/year contribution limit with no income phase-out. Growth and withdrawals are completely tax-free. No RMD requirement. In many ways, more generous than a Roth IRA for UK residents.
India: The PPF (Public Provident Fund) has some Roth-like characteristics — contributions are EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt under the old tax regime). Annual limit ₹1.5 lakh. 15-year lock-in with partial withdrawal options. ELSS mutual funds have a 3-year lock-in and also qualify for 80C deduction.
Canada: The TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) is Canada’s equivalent — contributions of $7,000/year (2026), no income limits, and all growth and withdrawals are completely tax-free. No RMD requirement. Unlike the Roth IRA, TFSA withdrawals create equivalent future contribution room.