2026 figures verified

2026 Roth IRA Income Limits and Traditional IRA Deductibility

Complete phase-out tables for Roth eligibility and Traditional deductibility, with MAGI calculation examples and a decision flowchart for every combination of filing status and workplace-plan coverage.

2026 Roth IRA Contribution Phase-Out (MAGI)

Filing StatusFull ContributionPartial (phase-out range)No Contribution
Single / HoHBelow $150,000$150,000-$165,000Above $165,000
MFJ / Qualifying Widow(er)Below $236,000$236,000-$246,000Above $246,000
MFS (lived with spouse)$0$0-$10,000Above $10,000

Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Last verified April 2026. Note: these limits are the same for both Traditional-and-convert (backdoor Roth) contributions AND the Roth income limit only applies to direct contributions. Conversions have no income limit.

How partial Roth contributions are calculated

Example: MAGI $155,000, single filer in 2026

  • Phase-out range: $150,000 to $165,000 = $15,000 wide
  • Your MAGI above floor: $155,000 - $150,000 = $5,000
  • Phase-out fraction: $5,000 / $15,000 = 33.3%
  • Reduced limit: $7,000 x (1 - 33.3%) = $4,669
  • Rounded up to nearest $10 = $4,670
  • Minimum allowed: $200 (if any contribution is allowed)

The remaining contribution room ($7,000 - $4,670 = $2,330) can be made as a non-deductible Traditional contribution and immediately converted via the backdoor Roth.

2026 Traditional IRA Deductibility Phase-Out

Deductibility depends on whether you (or your spouse) participate in a workplace retirement plan.

You are covered by a workplace plan

Filing StatusFull DeductionPartialNo Deduction
Single / HoHBelow $79,000$79,000-$89,000Above $89,000
MFJ (you are covered)Below $126,000$126,000-$146,000Above $146,000
MFS (lived with spouse)$0$0-$10,000Above $10,000

Your spouse is covered but you are not (MFJ)

Full deduction below MAGI$236,000
Partial deduction range$236,000-$246,000
No deduction above$246,000

Neither spouse covered: Fully deductible at any income level. Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Above the Income Limit? Three Options

Option 1: Non-deductible Traditional + Backdoor Roth

Contribute non-deductible to a Traditional IRA (no income limit), then convert to Roth immediately. File Form 8606 to record the basis. Watch the pro-rata rule if you have other pre-tax IRA balances.

Full backdoor Roth guide →

Option 2: Mega Backdoor Roth via 401(k)

After-tax contributions to your 401(k) up to the $70,000 DC limit, then in-plan Roth conversion. Requires plan support. Adds $36,500+ into Roth annually on top of the $7,000 IRA backdoor.

Mega backdoor Roth guide →

Option 3: Taxable brokerage account

No contribution limits. Long-term capital gains taxed at 15-20%. Less tax-efficient than IRA strategies but better than doing nothing after maxing tax-advantaged accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a 401(k) at work affect my Traditional IRA deduction?+
Yes. If you (or your spouse) are covered by a workplace retirement plan at any point during the year, your Traditional IRA deduction phases out at lower income levels. If you have a 401(k) and earn $90,000+ as a single filer in 2026, you cannot deduct a Traditional IRA contribution. However, you can still make a non-deductible Traditional contribution and use the backdoor Roth.
What counts as 'covered by a workplace retirement plan'?+
You are covered if your W-2 has Box 13 'Retirement plan' checked, or if you actively participated in a 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or defined-benefit pension plan at any point during the tax year. Even if you did not contribute yourself, if your employer contributed on your behalf, you are considered covered.
What is MAGI and how do I calculate it for IRA purposes?+
Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) starts with your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and adds back certain deductions. For IRA purposes, you add back: Traditional IRA deduction, student loan interest deduction, foreign earned income exclusion, and savings bond interest exclusion. For Roth IRA specifically, you also add back passive activity losses and rental activity losses. Most people's MAGI equals their AGI.
My spouse has a 401(k) but I don't. Can I deduct a Traditional IRA?+
If your spouse has a workplace plan and you do not, a different phase-out applies to you. You can deduct a full Traditional IRA contribution if your joint MAGI is below $236,000. The deduction phases out from $236,000 to $246,000, and is eliminated above $246,000. This is much more generous than the phase-out for someone who is themselves covered by a workplace plan.
I'm over the Roth income limit. Can I still do a Roth IRA?+
Yes, via the backdoor Roth. Contribute non-deductible to a Traditional IRA (no income limit on contributions, only on deductibility), then convert it to Roth. Conversions have no income limit. The backdoor Roth is legal and IRS-blessed since the 2018 conference report on TCJA. See the full backdoor Roth guide for the pro-rata rule and Form 8606 requirements.

Updated 2026-04-27