Contribution limits and income limits do different jobs.
One limits how much you contribute. Another may restrict a Roth contribution or a traditional IRA deduction. Neither tells you how much you must save.
Your retirement reading guide
2026 contribution ceilings
| Account / contribution | 2026 limit | Catch-up / conditions | 2027 official limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional + Roth IRAs, combined | $7,500 | $1,100 at age 50+; total $8,600 | Pending IRS release |
| 401(k), 403(b), TSP employee deferrals | $24,500 | $8,000 at age 50+; total $32,500 | Pending IRS release |
| 401(k), 403(b), TSP: special ages 60–63 | $24,500 | $11,250 catch-up; total $35,750 | Pending IRS release |
| Governmental 457(b) annual deferrals | $24,500 | Age 50+ catch-up $8,000; ages 60–63 $11,250, if permitted | Pending IRS release |
| Defined-contribution annual additions: employee + employer | $72,000 | Permitted catch-ups excluded; compensation limits also apply | Pending IRS release |
| SEP IRA employer contribution | $72,000 maximum | Also limited by compensation and contribution percentage | Pending IRS release |
| SIMPLE IRA / SIMPLE 401(k): standard employee deferral | $17,000 | Age 50+ catch-up $4,000; ages 60–63 $5,250 | Pending IRS release |
| Certain eligible SIMPLE plans: enhanced deferral | $18,100 | Special catch-up rules apply; confirm with the plan | Pending IRS release |
| Annual compensation considered by a plan | $360,000 | A calculation cap, not a personal income eligibility ceiling | Pending IRS release |
| Defined-benefit plan: annual benefit ceiling | $290,000 | A benefit limit, not a contribution allowance | Pending IRS release |
These are common plan limits, not a complete list of every specialized plan rule. Catch-ups depend on age and plan provisions. The IRA limit is shared across your traditional and Roth IRAs, not multiplied by opening accounts. Employee pre-tax and Roth 401(k) deferrals share a limit. Multiple jobs do not generally give you a separate employee-deferral limit at each 401(k).
A governmental 457(b) limit generally includes employer contributions and is generally separate from the 401(k)/403(b) employee limit. Its special catch-up near retirement has different rules. SEP contributions are generally limited to 25% of eligible compensation; self-employed owners use an adjusted net-earnings calculation. Defined-benefit contributions require actuarial calculations.
There is no general household-income cutoff for contributing to a workplace 401(k). Plan terms, compensation, and nondiscrimination rules still matter. The IRA income tables below address different restrictions.
Compare federal income-tax brackets and standard deductions →
IRS: 2026 annual limits ↗ · IRS: Notice 2025-67 and technical limits ↗
2026 Roth IRA income phase-outs
| Filing situation | MAGI phase-out range |
|---|---|
| Single / head of household | $153,000–$168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000–$252,000 |
| Married filing separately, lived with spouse during the year | $0–$10,000; special rules apply |
Separate filers who lived apart all year generally use the single-filer range. Roth 401(k) employee contributions do not have these Roth IRA income phase-outs.
2026 traditional IRA deduction phase-outs
| Workplace-plan situation | MAGI range |
|---|---|
| Single / head of household contributor covered at work | $81,000–$91,000 |
| Joint return, contributing spouse covered at work | $129,000–$149,000 |
| Joint return, contributor not covered but spouse covered | $242,000–$252,000 |
| Married filing separately, lived together, workplace-plan rules apply | Generally $0–$10,000 |
If neither spouse is covered by a workplace retirement plan, these deduction phase-outs generally do not apply. Nondeductible contributions require careful basis records, commonly Form 8606. A high income does not automatically make a backdoor Roth strategy appropriate: conversion and pro-rata rules need tax review.
When can you fund an IRA?
Generally, contribute for a tax year during that year and through the following year’s regular federal return filing deadline, without extensions. For 2026, that is generally April 15, 2027, subject to applicable relief. Tell the custodian which tax year the contribution is for. Extending your return does not normally extend this IRA contribution deadline.
Compensation and eligibility apply for the contribution year. A rollover is different from a regular annual contribution. Workplace payroll deferrals and self-employed plan contributions have different deadlines.
IRS Publication 590-A: eligibility, deductions and contribution deadlines ↗
What about 2027?
Official 2027 annual IRA/401(k) contribution ceilings and IRA income phase-outs were not available in the IRS annual-limit announcements reviewed as of October 17, 2026. We have not copied 2026 amounts into 2027 or presented estimates as official. Check the IRS table before contributing for 2027.
IRS: annual retirement-limit announcements ↗
Catch-up tax treatment can differ.
Beginning in 2026, certain higher-paid employees must make catch-up contributions on a Roth basis. The 2026 rule uses a $150,000 prior-year wage threshold with the sponsoring employer; it is not a household MAGI limit. Confirm the applicable wage definition and plan implementation.
IRS: catch-up contribution rules ↗
Help for modest savers
Eligible savers may qualify for the Saver’s Credit for 2026. Beginning with 2027 contributions, the Saver’s Match is scheduled to replace that credit for eligible retirement contributions. It can provide up to a 50% federal match on up to $2,000, subject to income, age, dependency, student-status, and other rules. This is separate from an employer’s match. Review current IRS instructions for claiming and receiving it.
IRS: Saver’s Match beginning in 2027 ↗
General education, not individualized tax, legal, investment, or rollover advice. Reviewed October 16, 2026. Annual limits are dated and do not update automatically. Confirm your situation with the plan administrator, a qualified tax professional, and an appropriately licensed investment professional. LI4W’s insurance services do not include managing a securities portfolio.