Workers under age 50 can contribute up to $7,500 to a Traditional IRA for tax year 2026. Workers age 50 or older can contribute up to $8,600. A Traditional IRA is a tax-advantaged account for retirement savings.
The older group gets a higher cap through a catch-up contribution. The Internal Revenue Service states the base amount in its November 2025 announcement. Age for the higher limit is measured at Dec. 31, 2026.
Table of Contents
- How Much Can You Contribute by Age?
- What Changed From 2025?
- Does the Limit Apply Per Account?
- How Much Must You Save Each Month to Max Out?
How Much Can You Contribute by Age?
If you will be under 50 on Dec. 31, 2026, your limit is $7,500. That is the maximum for all your contributions for the year. It applies to workers with at least that much taxable compensation.
If you will be 50 or older on Dec. 31, 2026, your limit is $8,600. The Internal Revenue Service describes that total as $7,500 plus a $1,100 catch-up in its IRA contribution limits guide. The extra amount helps workers closer to retirement save more.
What Changed From 2025?
The 2026 base limit rose $500 from $7,000 in 2025. The catch-up for savers age 50 or older rose $100 from $1,000. The Internal Revenue Service reported both increases in its November 2025 announcement.
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That catch-up increase is the first of its kind. The IRA catch-up is now indexed for inflation under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, according to the Internal Revenue Service in its November 2025 announcement. For 2026, indexation raised it to $1,100.
Does the Limit Apply Per Account?
No. The dollar cap is combined across all Traditional and Roth IRAs you hold. The Internal Revenue Service says the limit covers total contributions to both account types.
You cannot contribute $7,500 to each account. Your contribution also cannot exceed your taxable compensation for the year. The Internal Revenue Service applies this earnings test to both age groups. A worker with $5,000 of taxable compensation cannot contribute $7,500.
How Much Must You Save Each Month to Max Out?
Fidelity calculates about $625 per month to reach $7,500 and about $717 per month to reach $8,600, fundable through the April 2027 tax-filing deadline in its 2026 limits guide. Monthly saving can make either target easier to track.
- Check your 2026 taxable compensation before setting a target.
- Divide your age-group limit by the months left to contribute.
- Split contributions across Traditional and Roth IRAs without exceeding the combined cap.
- Schedule automatic transfers so deposits arrive before the April 2027 deadline.
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