IRA contribution limits 2026
How much you can put in a Roth or Traditional IRA, the catch-up rule, the combined limit across both account types, contribution deadlines, and how IRA limits interact with a workplace 401(k).
2026 limits at a glance
$7,000
per year, across all your IRAs combined
$8,000
$7,000 base + $1,000 catch-up
15 April 2027
to make 2026 tax-year contributions
The combined limit rule
The $7,000 (or $8,000) limit applies to all your IRAs added together. You can split the money between a Roth and a Traditional IRA, but the total cannot exceed the limit.
| Example | Roth | Traditional | Total | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Split contribution | $4,000 | $3,000 | $7,000 | Allowed |
| All Roth | $7,000 | $0 | $7,000 | Allowed |
| Maxing both | $7,000 | $7,000 | $14,000 | Excess (6% penalty) |
Historical IRA contribution limits
| Tax year | Under 50 | Age 50+ | Catch-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $6,000 | $7,000 | $1,000 |
| 2021 | $6,000 | $7,000 | $1,000 |
| 2022 | $6,000 | $7,000 | $1,000 |
| 2023 | $6,500 | $7,500 | $1,000 |
| 2024 | $7,000 | $8,000 | $1,000 |
| 2025 | $7,000 | $8,000 | $1,000 |
| 2026 (current) | $7,000 | $8,000 | $1,000 |
Source: IRS published limits. Catch-up applies starting the year you turn 50.
Workplace 401(k) does not reduce IRA limit
Having a 401(k) does not lower your IRA contribution cap. The $24,500 employee deferral limit (2026) and the $7,000 IRA limit are entirely separate buckets. What a workplace plan can do is reduce your Traditional IRA deduction at lower income levels. See deduction phase-outs.
Spousal IRA doubles your household contribution
A non-working spouse can contribute to their own IRA based on the working spouse's earned income. The same $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+) limit applies. For households with one earner, this effectively doubles the IRA contribution capacity to $14,000 ($16,000 if both 50+).