The 2026 numbers advisors need on hand.
Wednesday, April 15, 2027 is the deadline to open and/or make 2026 contributions to Traditional and Roth IRAs. Tax filing extensions generally do not extend this deadline.
Clients depend more on personal savings for retirement than prior generations did. Fewer employers offer pensions, and Social Security funds a smaller share of monthly retirement income. Traditional and Roth IRA contributions, alongside workplace retirement plans (WRPs) such as 401(k), 403(b), SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs, remain one of the most direct ways a client can close that gap – but the contribution and deductibility rules shift every year.
Who Can Contribute
- A client, or their spouse if filing jointly, can contribute as long as one of them has taxable compensation earned from working.
- Under IRC rules enforced by the IRS, compensation is the amount reported in Box 1 of Form W-2: wages, salaries, tips, professional fees, bonuses, nontaxable combat pay, taxable non-tuition fellowship and stipend payments, and taxable alimony or separate maintenance payments. The alimony provision applies only to divorce or separation instruments executed on or before December 31, 2018 that have not been amended to exclude these amounts.
- Compensation does not include earnings from property – rental, interest, or dividend income – pension or annuity income, deferred compensation, income from certain partnerships, or amounts excluded from income such as foreign earned income and housing costs (combat pay excepted).
- There is no age limit on contributions, as long as the client or their spouse has qualifying compensation.
- Contributions must be made in cash, check, or money order. In-kind contributions of securities or property are not accepted.
2026 Contribution Limits
Two figures to confirm with every clientThe 2026 maximum combined contribution across all of a client’s Traditional and Roth IRAs.
The 2026 maximum combined contribution for clients who qualify for catch-up contributions.
- A client can contribute to a Traditional IRA even if they do not qualify for the deduction.
- Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars and are never deductible.
- A client can contribute to an IRA and a WRP in the same year – the two are not mutually exclusive.
Traditional IRA Deductibility Limits
When a client, and their spouse if married, is not covered by a WRP, the deduction is full regardless of income. When a client is covered1 by a WRP, the deduction phases out based on filing status and Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI):
| Single | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately2 | Deduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $81,000 | Under $129,000 | Under $0 | Full |
| $81,000 – $91,000 | $129,000 – $149,000 | $0 – $10,000 | Partial |
| Over $91,000 | Over $149,000 | Over $10,000 | None |
When Only One Spouse Is Covered by a WRP
The deductibility limit for the spouse not covered1 by a WRP is based on filing status and MAGI:
| Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately2 | Deduction |
|---|---|---|
| Under $242,000 | Under $0 | Full |
| $242,000 – $252,000 | $0 – $10,000 | Partial |
| Over $252,000 | Over $10,000 | None |
Roth IRA Contribution Eligibility
A client can contribute to a Roth IRA if they are at or under the MAGI limits below, based on filing status:
| Single | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately2 | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $153,000 | Under $242,000 | Under $0 | Full |
| $153,000 – $168,000 | $242,000 – $252,000 | $0 – $10,000 | Partial |
| Over $168,000 | Over $252,000 | Over $10,000 | None |
Worth confirming with clients: Roth IRA contributions are never deductible, regardless of eligibility. The table above reflects contribution eligibility only, not a deduction.
2026 QCD Limits
Two QCD figures for 2026The maximum a client can direct from an IRA to qualified charities in 2026 while excluding the distribution from taxable income.
A one-time lifetime election that counts toward the annual QCD limit in the year the client makes it.
- A client is covered by a WRP if the “Retirement Plan” box in Box 13 of their W-2 is checked.
- If a client did not live with their spouse at any time during the tax year, their filing status for IRA contribution purposes is treated as single.
A client-ready reference covering the key IRA milestones from age 59½ through RMD Age and beyond – contribution windows, distribution rules, QCD eligibility, and the planning conversations that belong at each stage. Built by Cathleen Davis-Whitmore, The IRA Oracle.
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