The IRS has set 2026 income limits that determine how much you can contribute to traditional and Roth IRAs, and whether you get a tax deduction for traditional IRA deposits.
For married couples filing jointly, income thresholds jumped from 2025 levels. These limits phase out your ability to make deductible contributions to a traditional IRA or contribute directly to a Roth IRA once you cross specific income brackets.
The phase-out range for traditional IRA deductions starts at a higher income threshold than last year. If you're married and your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) falls within the phase-out range, you can only deduct a portion of your $7,000 annual contribution (or $8,000 if you're 50 or older). Once your income exceeds the upper limit of the phase-out range, you cannot deduct any traditional IRA contribution.
Roth IRA contribution eligibility follows a separate income phase-out. High earners lose the ability to contribute directly to a Roth once their MAGI hits the phase-out range. Single filers face lower income thresholds than married couples. Qualifying widowers get the same limits as married couples filing jointly for two years after a spouse's death.
If you earn too much to contribute directly to a Roth, the backdoor Roth strategy remains available. This involves contributing to a traditional IRA and then converting it to a Roth, though you need to watch for pro-rata tax consequences if you hold other traditional IRAs.
Workers covered by employer retirement plans face additional restrictions. If you have a 401(k), 403(b), or similar plan at work, your ability to deduct traditional IRA contributions phases out at different income levels than those without workplace coverage.
Planning ahead matters. If your income is near these limits