IRA 2026: $2,000 YTD → $5,500 room left
The IRS set the IRA (Individual Retirement Arrangement) contribution limit for 2026 at $7,500 per person, rising to $8,600 if you turn 50 or older during the year. This calculator shows how much room you have left if you already contributed part of your cap.
Read the evergreen explainer →
You can still fund a 2026 IRA after December 31: IRA contribution deadline.
Match first, then IRA vs leftover 401(k): IRA vs 401(k) $2,400 match.
Workplace cap hit? The IRA can still be open: 401(k) maxed, IRA still $7,500.
The limit is combined: all traditional and Roth IRA contributions count together. It is a per-person limit, not per account.
This page covers the U.S. federal IRA contribution limit only. It is not Mexican or Guatemalan law.
limit = $7,500 (under 50) or $8,600 (age 50+)
remaining = max(0, limit − YTD contributions) excess = max(0, YTD contributions − limit)
Worked example: $2,000 → $5,500
You contributed $2,000 this year and you are under 50:
- Limit: $7,500
- Room left: $7,500 − $2,000 = $5,500
- Excess: $0
At age 50+ with the same $2,000: room left = $8,600 − $2,000 = $6,600.
If you already contributed $9,000 at age 50+: excess = $9,000 − $8,600 = $400.
| YTD contributions | Age | Limit | Room left | Excess |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | < 50 | $7,500 | $7,500 | $0 |
| $2,000 | < 50 | $7,500 | $5,500 | $0 |
| $5,000 | < 50 | $7,500 | $2,500 | $0 |
| $7,500 | < 50 | $7,500 | $0 | $0 |
| $8,000 | < 50 | $7,500 | $0 | $500 |
Age-50+ catch-up ($1,100)
In 2026 the catch-up raises the cap from $7,500 to $8,600 ($1,100 extra). Turn on the age 50+ option to use it.
| Age in 2026 | Catch-up | Total limit | With $2,000 YTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $0 | $7,500 | $5,500 left |
| 50 or older | $1,100 | $8,600 | $6,600 left |
2026 IRA limits (summary)
| Age during 2026 | Contribution limit | Catch-up included |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $7,500 | No |
| 50 or older | $8,600 | Yes ($1,100) |
What this calculator does not include
- Compensation cap: you generally cannot contribute more than your earned income for the year. Not modeled.
- Roth IRA income phase-outs: high earners may face reduced or zero Roth room.
- Spousal IRA, inherited IRAs, and rollovers.
- Excess-contribution penalties or corrections.
If you have two traditional IRAs and one Roth, all three share the same $7,500 cap (or $8,600 with catch-up).
Educational estimate using IRS 2026 limits. Your real room depends on compensation, IRA type, and your full tax picture. Confirm with a tax professional.
Traditional vs Roth: one shared cap
- Traditional IRA: contributions are often deductible; withdrawals are taxed.
- Roth IRA: contributions are after-tax; qualified withdrawals are tax-free.
- Both share the same annual per-person limit.
If you also defer into a workplace plan, check the 2026 401(k) elective deferral limit; that is a separate, higher cap.
Official sources
- IRS — Retirement Topics — IRA Contribution Limits
- IRS Publication 590-A — Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
$7,500 per person if you are under 50, and $8,600 if you turn 50 or older during the year. With $2,000 already contributed under 50 you have $5,500 left.
Per person. All your traditional and Roth IRAs add up: contributing to one account reduces the room available in the others.
The calculator shows the excess. Example: $8,000 under age 50 → $500 excess. Over-limit contributions can create tax consequences.
Generally no: you need compensation for the year (wages, tips, or self-employment income) to contribute. That requirement is not modeled here.
Yes, the amount is the same and it is shared between traditional and Roth. Roth IRAs also have income phase-out limits that this calculator does not model.
It is the extra amount allowed for people 50 and older: in 2026 the cap rises from $7,500 to $8,600 ($1,100 extra). With $2,000 YTD at 50+ you have $6,600 left.