Traditional IRA and Roth IRA Contribution Limits

Understanding current and historical IRA contribution limits

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There's a limit to how much you can contribute to an IRA in a given year. Traditional and Roth IRA contribution limits typically increase with the inflation rate in $500 increments. The contribution limit doesn't increase in some years if inflation wasn't significant enough to trigger the next increment.

An investor can contribute to either a traditional or Roth IRA or split their contributions between the two, but the combined annual contribution can't exceed the overall limit. The maximum you can contribute across all IRAs is $6,000 for 2021 and 2022, but you can make an additional catch-up contribution of up to $1,000, for a total of $7,000, if you're age 50 or older.

Key Takeaways

  • The maximum you can contribute across all IRAs is $6,000, but you can make an additional contribution of up to $1,000 if you're 50 or older.
  • Roth IRA contributions are limited based on income and your filing status.
  • Neither traditional IRA nor Roth IRA contribution limits can be rolled forward to a future year.
  • Rollovers from one IRA to another don't count toward your annual contribution limits.

Traditional and Roth IRA Contribution Limits in 2022

This chart details historical traditional IRA and Roth IRA combined contribution limits. The two columns represent the combined contribution age limits for those age 49 and younger and those age 50 and older.

TAX YEAR AGE 49 & BELOW AGE 50 & ABOVE
2002—2004 $3,000 $3,500
2005 $4,000 $4,500
2006—2007 $4,000 $5,000
2008 $5,000 $6,000
2009 $5,000 $6,000
2010 $5,000 $6,000
2011 $5,000 $6,000
2012 $5,000 $6,000
2013 $5,500 $6,500
2014 $5,500 $6,500
2015 $5,500 $6,500
2016 $5,500 $6,500
2017 $5,500 $6,500
2018 $5,500 $6,500
2019 $6,000 $7,000
2020 $6,000 $7,000
2021 $6,000 $7,000
2022 $6,000 $7,000

Traditional IRA contribution limits and Roth IRA contribution limits are written into the U.S. tax code so that they're always identical.

Note

IRA contributions are separate from 401(k) contributions, which have a significantly higher limit.

Traditional IRA Deduction Limits

Your contributions aren't limited if you're covered by a retirement plan at work, but the amount you can claim as a tax deduction could be, depending on your income. The income limits are also based on filing status.

Single filers with a modified adjusted gross income (AGI) of $68,000 or less in 2022 can deduct their full contribution to a traditional IRA. This AGI is up from $66,000 in 2021. Married joint filers can take a full deduction in 2022 if their income is $109,000 or less, up from $105,000 in 2021.

There's no deduction limit if you're single and you don't have a retirement plan at work, or if you're married and your spouse doesn't also have a retirement plan. Your deduction might be limited, depending on your income, if your spouse has access to a retirement plan.

Roth IRA Contribution Limits

Roth IRA contributions are limited based on income. For the 2022 tax year, those who are married and filing jointly must have an income of less than $204,000 to make a full contribution. Those with incomes between $204,000 and $214,000 can make a partial contribution, and those with incomes of $214,000 or more can't contribute to a Roth at all.

Single filers have to make less than $129,000 in 2022 (up from $125,000 in 2021) to make a full contribution to a Roth IRA. Those who are married but filing separately can only make a reduced contribution if their incomes are less than $10,000.

Contribution Deadlines

The deadline for meeting the contribution limit is the initial tax-filing deadline, which is usually April 15 unless the date falls on a weekend. That happens in 2022, so you have until April 18 to fund your IRA account for the 2022 tax year.

Note

There's no option to increase the next year's limit if you don't reach the limit in one year. You can't roll the unused amount forward.

Ways of Funding Your IRAs

Your contributions don't have to be made in one lump sum. You can set up automatic contributions to your IRA once a week or once a month or make other periodic contributions.

Assuming that you meet the qualifications to contribute to a Roth, you could split your contributions between a Roth and a traditional IRA, or you could put funds in just one or the other. A Roth offers tax-free withdrawals when you retire. A traditional IRA offers tax deductions now. Both options have their advantages. The better option for you depends on your priorities and your overall financial situation.

Keep in mind that the combined annual contribution limit always applies. You can contribute a total of $6,000 to either your traditional or Roth IRA without exceeding the contribution limits if you were 49 years old or younger in 2022. You could split that amount between the two types of accounts as long as you stayed at or below the limit. But you couldn't contribute $3,000 to a traditional IRA and $3,500 to a Roth. This would put you at a total of $6,500, over the $6,000 limit for your age.

Exceptions to the Rule

Rollovers from one IRA to another don't count toward your annual contribution limits. You can roll funds over from an IRA of one type to another IRA of the same type. You might move a traditional IRA from one trustee to another because you prefer the fees at the new trustee.

Note

You can't convert a Roth IRA into a traditional IRA.

You can also convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. This is referred to as a "Roth conversion." But anything you convert could be counted as taxable income. You might want to roll over funds gradually over a few years to minimize taxes.

Remember that Roth IRA contributions are limited based on income thresholds. A "backdoor Roth" is a strategy that has been adopted as a workaround if you should find yourself in this situation. An allowable, nondeductible contribution can be made to a traditional IRA, and then a Roth Conversion can be executed. Rollovers and contribution limits can be complex, so it's best to consult a tax professional for advice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I make a traditional or Roth IRA contribution if I have no income?

You can't contribute more than your taxable income to an IRA. The contribution limit is $6,000 or $7,000 as of 2022, depending on your age or the amount of your taxable income, whichever is less.

Do I have to file any special tax forms for my IRA contributions?

File IRS Form 8606 with your Form 1040 tax return if you make contributions to a traditional IRA for which you don't claim a tax deduction. This rule doesn't apply to Roth IRA contributions unless they're conversions from a traditional IRA.

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Sources
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  1. Internal Revenue Service. "Retirement Topics - IRA Contribution Limits."

  2. Internal Revenue Service. "Retirement Topics - 401(k) and Profit-Sharing Plan Contribution Limits."

  3. Internal Revenue Service. "2022 Limitations Adjusted as Provided in Section 415(d), etc."

  4. Internal Revenue Service. "2022 IRA Contribution and Deduction Limits Effect of Modified AGI on Deductible Contributions if You are NOT Covered by a Retirement Plan at Work."

  5. Internal Revenue Service. "2022 IRA Contribution and Deduction Limits Effect of Modified AGI on Deductible Contributions if You Are Covered by a Retirement Plan at Work."

  6. Internal Revenue Service. "2022 Limitations Adjusted as Provided in Section 415(d), etc.," Pages 3-4.

  7. Internal Revenue Service. "Income Ranges for Determining IRA Eligibility Change for 2021."

  8. Internal Revenue Service. "IRA Year-End Reminders."

  9. Internal Revenue Service. "2022 Tax Filing Season Begins Jan. 24; IRS Outlines Refund Timing and What To Expect in Advance of April 18 Tax Deadline."

  10. Internal Revenue Service. "Traditional and Roth IRAs."

  11. Internal Revenue Service. "IRA FAQs."

  12. Internal Revenue Service. "Rollover Chart."

  13. Internal Revenue Service. "Instructions for Form 8606 (2021)."

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