IRA Contribution Limit Calculator United States
This IRA contribution limit calculator applies the 2026 limits ($7,500, or $8,600 at 50 and over) and shows how much of your planned deposit is allowed.
What it does
The IRA Contribution Limit Calculator shows your 2026 IRA contribution limit — $7,500 if you are under 50, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older thanks to the catch-up amount — and how much of your planned contribution is allowed before you hit an excess.
Data sources & parameters
The figures below drive this calculator. We keep them aligned with the latest official guidance, and each result recalculates automatically whenever a value changes.
| Parameter | Value | Source | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA deductible contribution limit (IRC 219(b)(5)(A)) | 7,500 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| IRA catch-up contribution for an individual aged 50 or over (IRC 219(b)(5)(B)(ii)) | 1,100 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| Catch-up age bands: the standard catch-up opens at age 50 (IRC 414(v)(2)(B)) and the higher SECURE 2.0 catch-up applies for ages 60 to 63 (IRC 414(v)(2)(E)) | Rate schedule | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Seeded from the IRS catch-up rules: age 50 for the standard catch-up, ages 60-63 for the higher SECURE 2.0 catch-up; previously hardcoded in catch-up-contribution-us and 401k-calculator-us. Values unchanged. |
We always strive to use the latest data for every variable so our results and reports are as accurate as possible. Even so, errors are possible — you should not rely on this tool or its report alone, and we accept no liability for any decision made based on it.
The formula
Limit = annual limit + (age 50+ ? catch-up : 0); allowed = min(planned, limit); excess = max(0, planned − limit)
How it works
It takes the standard annual IRA limit and adds the age-50 catch-up if you qualify, then compares that combined limit with the amount you plan to contribute to show how much is allowed and how much, if anything, is over the limit.
Where it is used
- Checking your maximum IRA contribution for the year
- Seeing whether a planned deposit exceeds the limit
- Confirming the extra catch-up room once you turn 50
Worked example
At age 55 planning to contribute $9,000.00, your limit is …, so … is allowed and … is excess.
This IRA contribution limit calculator applies the 2026 figures to your age and your planned deposit. It shows your limit, how much of the deposit is allowed and whether any of it goes over, which helps you avoid the penalty for overfunding.
How the 2026 IRA limit is set
The IRS sets a standard annual limit on IRA contributions and reviews it each year for inflation. For 2026 it is $7,500 for savers under age 50. The limit is one combined ceiling across every traditional and Roth IRA you hold, so the number of accounts makes no difference.
The catch-up contribution at 50
If you are 50 or older by the end of the year, you can add a catch-up contribution of $1,100 for 2026, raising your limit from $7,500 to $8,600. You get the full amount in the year you turn 50, whatever the month of your birthday. The calculator adds the catch-up automatically when the age you enter is 50 or more.
Allowed contribution versus excess
The tool splits your planned deposit into the part that fits within your limit and any part above it. If your plan is within the limit, all of it is allowed and the excess is zero. If not, the allowed figure stops at the limit and the rest is flagged as excess, which the IRS taxes at 6 percent for each year it stays in the account.
A worked example
Suppose you are 55 and plan to contribute $9,000 this year. Your limit is $7,500 plus the $1,100 catch-up, or $8,600, so $8,600 is allowed and $400 is excess. Removing the $400 before the filing deadline avoids the 6 percent penalty. At age 40 the same $9,000 plan meets the $7,500 limit and leaves $1,500 of excess.
How to use the calculator
Enter your age and the amount you intend to contribute this year. The headline figure is your contribution limit, with the allowed amount and any excess below it. Lower your planned contribution until the excess reads zero to find the most you can put in.
Traditional versus Roth, and the shared limit
The limit covers traditional and Roth IRAs together, but the two accounts work differently. A traditional IRA is funded with pre-tax or deductible dollars, grows tax-deferred and is taxed when you withdraw. A Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free.
Eligibility can reduce how much of the limit you can use. Roth contributions phase out above certain income levels, so a high earner may not be able to contribute directly to a Roth even though the dollar limit here allows it. Anyone with earned income can contribute to a traditional IRA, but the deduction phases out if you or your spouse are covered by a workplace retirement plan and your income is above the threshold. This tool answers how much; which account to use and how it is taxed depend on your income and filing status.
Correcting an excess contribution
If the calculator flags an excess, deal with it before your tax filing deadline, including extensions. The usual fix is to withdraw the excess plus any earnings on it; the earnings are taxable, but the 6% penalty does not apply. Another option is to leave the excess in place and count it toward next year’s limit if you will have room, paying the 6% tax for each year it sat over. Because the penalty repeats every year the excess remains, a small mistake left alone keeps costing money. Usually a call to your brokerage before the deadline is enough to remove it.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common mistake is treating the limit as per account and contributing the maximum to both a traditional and a Roth IRA. Another is contributing more than you earned: you cannot contribute beyond your taxable compensation, so a part-time worker or retiree with little earned income may have a lower limit than the age-based figure shown here. Some savers confuse the IRA limit with the much larger 401(k) limit; they are separate, and maxing out a 401(k) does not reduce your IRA room. Finally, you can make contributions for a tax year up to that year’s filing deadline the following spring, not just until December 31.
Assumptions and limitations
This is a planning estimate based on the 2026 IRA figures, stored as parameters sourced from the IRS and reviewed each year. It uses only your age and planned contribution. It does not model Roth income phase-outs, the cap at your earned income, deduction limits for traditional IRAs when you have a workplace plan, or spousal IRA rules. Any of these can lower what you may contribute or deduct, so check current IRS guidance or ask a tax professional before contributing.
About This IRA Contribution Limit Calculator
Use this IRA contribution limit calculator to get an instant, accurate estimate. The figures follow official IRS guidance and every rate and threshold is kept up to date for 2026. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.
Tax year 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the IRA contribution limit for 2026?
How does the age-50 catch-up contribution work?
Does the limit apply to each IRA separately?
What happens if I contribute more than the limit?
Do I need earned income to contribute to an IRA?
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