Regular Individual Retirement Account (IRA) contributions are not due December 31. You may contribute for a tax year until the federal return due date without extensions, generally April 15 of the next year.
December 31 still controls other year-end moves. Roth conversions, required minimum distributions, and 401(k) paycheck deferrals must finish during the calendar year. Use December to complete those steps and use early spring to finish IRA contributions.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Irs — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official guidance from Irs — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
Table of Contents
- When can you still contribute for the tax year?
- How much can you put in?
- What must leave the account by December 31?
- Why do 401(k) savers face a tighter December deadline?
When can you still contribute for the tax year?
The IRS states in Publication 590-A that regular Traditional and Roth IRA contributions may be made until the federal return due date without extensions. For calendar-year filers, that date is generally April 15 of the next year. December 31 does not close the window.
IRS summaries show 2025 contributions closed April 15, 2026. Contributions for 2026 run January 1, 2026 through April 15, 2027. Filing Form 4868 for more time to file does not extend the regular IRA deadline.
How much can you put in?
The IRS announced in IR-2025-111 2026 limits of $7,500 under age 50 and $8,600 at age 50-plus. The release reflects a $1,100 catch-up amount for savers 50 and older. For 2025, the limits were $7,000 and $8,000. IRS rules apply that limit combined across all Traditional and Roth IRAs.
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Total contributions also cannot exceed your taxable compensation for the year. A saver with two IRAs must split one limit, not use one limit per account. For example, a 40-year-old in 2026 could put $3,000 in a Traditional IRA and $4,500 in a Roth IRA. The pair totals $7,500 and meets the combined limit. A saver with only $4,000 of compensation could contribute no more than $4,000.
What must leave the account by December 31?
The IRS explains in Publication 590-B that a Roth conversion is taxed in the year the distribution is received. A conversion counts for a tax year only when funds leave the Traditional IRA by December 31. A Roth conversion moves money from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.
The IRS states on its required minimum distributions page that distributions for each year after the required beginning date must be withdrawn by December 31. RMD amounts cannot be rolled over or converted to Roth. A required minimum distribution is the yearly withdrawal the rules require from certain retirement accounts.
- Withdraw your full RMD amount first and keep it out of any conversion.
- Schedule a conversion transfer early so money leaves the Traditional IRA by December 31.
- Confirm both transactions show December dates on statements.
Why do 401(k) savers face a tighter December deadline?
IRS plan rules treat 401(k) employee elective deferrals differently from IRA contributions. Deferrals must come from pay earned and paid during the calendar year. Workers must raise payroll deferrals before the last December paycheck.
For example, a worker paid December 31 can defer from that check but not from January pay for the prior year. An IRA saver with the same goal has until April 15. Check your last pay date early and submit the payroll change in time.
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