Use the IRA rules, not guesswork
2 min read
Traditional and Roth IRAs share one contribution limit. Your earned income, filing status, and MAGI determine which route fits.
THE IDEA
For 2026, the combined Traditional and Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,500 per person, or $8,600 at age 50+ with the $1,100 catch-up. Contributions require earned income.
If you are covered by a workplace plan, the Traditional IRA deduction phaseout is $81,000–$91,000 for single/HoH, $129,000–$149,000 for an MFJ contributor who is covered, and $242,000–$252,000 for a non-covered spouse. The Roth phaseout for MFS while living with a spouse is $0–$10,000.
If your income sits under the Roth phaseout, skip the complexity: a direct Roth IRA contribution is simpler than the backdoor sequence. The backdoor route — Backdoor Roth: legal, but not automatic — is for incomes above the phaseout. And if you are married, a working spouse can fund a spousal IRA for a non-working spouse; your combined earned income just needs to cover both contributions.
Your next steps
- Confirm that you have earned income.
- Check filing status and MAGI.
- Add contributions across every Traditional and Roth IRA before contributing.
Check your understanding
Select each question to reveal the answer.
Planning questions
- How much have you contributed across all Traditional and Roth IRAs for 2026?
- Based on your filing status and expected MAGI, which IRA contribution path will you use?