Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32
IRA Contribution Limits for 2026: $7,000 Under 50, $8,000 at 50+
The 2026 IRA limits are unchanged from 2025 per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. This page covers the combined limit rule, spousal IRA exception, earned income requirement, and clears up a common SECURE 2.0 misconception about the $145,000 mandatory Roth catch-up rule.
Under age 50
$7,000
Age 50 or older
$8,000
Catch-up (50+)
$1,000
Contribution deadline
Apr 15, 2027
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (released October 2025). Last verified April 2026.
Contribution Limit History: 2024, 2025, 2026
| Year | Under 50 | Age 50+ | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,000 | $8,000 | Increase from $6,500/$7,500 in 2023 |
| 2025 | $7,000 | $8,000 | No change |
| 2026 | $7,000 | $8,000 | No change (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) |
The Combined Limit Rule
The $7,000 limit applies to the total of all contributions to all of your Traditional and Roth IRAs combined. Many people believe they can contribute $7,000 to each. They cannot.
$7,000 Traditional + $0 Roth
Allowed
$3,500 Traditional + $3,500 Roth
Allowed
$0 Traditional + $7,000 Roth
Allowed
$5,000 Traditional + $3,000 Roth
Not allowed: Exceeds $7,000 combined
$7,000 Traditional + $7,000 Roth
Not allowed: Exceeds $7,000 combined
$4,000 each account (2 Roth IRAs)
Not allowed: 2 Roth IRA combined = $8,000
Common misconception corrected
The $145,000 Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Rule Does NOT Apply to IRAs
SECURE Act 2.0 Section 603 requires that workers who earned more than $145,000 (indexed for inflation) in wages from the employer sponsoring their plan in the prior year must make their catch-up contributions as Roth rather than pre-tax, effective for plan years beginning in 2026 (delayed from 2024 via IRS Notice 2023-62).
This rule applies ONLY to workplace plans: 401(k), 403(b), and governmental 457(b). It does not apply to IRA catch-up contributions. The IRA catch-up of $1,000 per year for those age 50 and over remains available as either Traditional or Roth, regardless of your income level.
Sources: SECURE 2.0 Act Section 603 (P.L. 117-328), IRS Notice 2023-62 (implementing delay to 2026), IRS Notice 2025-XX (confirm latest IRS guidance on implementation details before acting).
Spousal IRA: Double Your Household Contributions
The earned income requirement can feel like a barrier for non-working or low-earning spouses. But there is an exception: if you file a joint return and your household has enough earned income, a non-working or low-earning spouse can contribute to their own IRA based on the working spouse’s income.
| Scenario | Max Household IRA (both under 50) | Max (both 50+) |
|---|---|---|
| Both spouses working, filing MFJ | $14,000 | $16,000 |
| One spouse non-working, spousal IRA | $14,000 | $16,000 |
| One spouse earns $5,000 (under limit) | $12,000 | $13,000 |
Spousal IRA deductibility follows the MFJ rules when the working spouse has a workplace plan: full deduction below $236,000 MAGI, partial from $236,000-$246,000, none above $246,000.
Contribution Deadline and Form 8606
Contribution deadline
The 2026 IRA contribution deadline is April 15, 2027. A tax filing extension does not extend this deadline. You can make contributions for 2026 as early as January 1, 2026 and as late as April 15, 2027. Contributions made in January-April can be designated for the prior or current year on Form 5498.
Form 8606: Non-deductible contributions
If you make a non-deductible Traditional IRA contribution (including backdoor Roth step 1), you must file Form 8606 with your tax return. This records your basis and prevents double taxation at withdrawal. Keep every Form 8606 permanently. Missing it means the IRS can later treat the non-deductible amount as fully taxable on distribution.