Find out how much you can contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026, how tax-free growth adds up over time, and whether the backdoor Roth is an option if your income exceeds the limit.
This free Roth IRA calculator is built for US taxpayers in 2026 with the latest IRS contribution limits and phase-out ranges. It calculates your maximum allowable Roth IRA contribution based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and filing status, then projects account growth over a defined time horizon with compounding returns. An optional Roth vs. Traditional IRA comparison shows the after-tax value of both strategies given your current and projected marginal rates. The backdoor Roth conversion pathway is also modeled for high-income earners above the phase-out thresholds.
1. Enter your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) for 2026.
2. Select your tax filing status: Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Married Filing Separately.
3. Confirm or adjust the maximum contribution based on age (under 50 or 50+).
4. Enter your planned annual contribution and starting balance (if any).
5. Enter your expected annual return rate and investment horizon in years.
6. Click "Calculate" to see your maximum eligible contribution, projected balance at retirement, and total tax-free growth.
2026 Roth IRA Contribution Limit:
Phase-out reduction:
Reduced limit formula: Maximum ร (1 โ (MAGI โ Phase-out Start) รท Phase-out Range)
Growth projection: Uses the standard future value formula with annual compounding. Tax-free means no annual tax drag on dividends or capital gains inside the account.
The Roth IRA's power is not just the tax-free growth โ it's that there are no required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the original owner, ever. A traditional IRA forces distributions at age 73 (or 75 for those born in 1960 or later), which can push you into higher brackets in retirement. The Roth sits untouched for as long as you want, continuing to grow, and passes to heirs with a 10-year distribution window under current SECURE 2.0 rules.
For 2026, the IRA contribution limit is $7,500 per person (up from $7,000 in 2024โ2025), with a $1,100 catch-up contribution for those 50 and older bringing the total to $8,600 (Fidelity). The $7,500 limit is a combined cap across all IRAs โ Traditional plus Roth โ not per account.
Phase-out ranges for 2026:
Contributing more than your allowable limit โ even by accident โ triggers a 6% excess contribution penalty per year until corrected. If you discover an excess contribution after filing, you can withdraw it with earnings (or recharacterize it as a Traditional IRA contribution) by the extended tax filing deadline.
If your income exceeds the Roth IRA phase-out, you can use the backdoor Roth conversion strategy:
Because the Traditional IRA contribution was made with after-tax dollars and there's no pre-tax money in the account, the conversion triggers little to no taxable income. The result is effectively a Roth IRA contribution for high earners.
Critical caveat โ the Pro-Rata Rule: If you have other Traditional IRA balances (including rollover IRAs from old 401(k)s), the IRS requires you to treat the conversion as coming proportionally from pre-tax and after-tax money across all your IRAs. This can make the backdoor Roth partially taxable and requires careful planning. The solution many high earners use: roll pre-existing Traditional IRA funds into a current employer 401(k) before executing the backdoor conversion.
The mega backdoor Roth, available to some 401(k) plan participants, allows after-tax contributions to a 401(k) up to the 2026 total limit of $72,000, with an in-plan Roth conversion or distribution to a Roth IRA โ dramatically exceeding the standard $7,500 IRA limit.
The fundamental trade-off: a Traditional IRA gives you a deduction now and taxes you on withdrawals; a Roth IRA gives you no deduction now but tax-free withdrawals.
The math favors the Roth when:
The math favors the Traditional when:
For 2026, a single filer earning $50,401โ$105,700 is in the 22% bracket. If they expect to withdraw from an IRA in retirement at a blended 15โ18% effective rate, the Roth is worth paying the 22% now for tax-free growth. If they expect retirement income above $100,800 (MFJ 22% threshold), the trade-off is less clear.
Roth IRA withdrawals come in two categories:
Contributions (the money you put in) can be withdrawn at any time, at any age, tax-free and penalty-free. You already paid taxes on them.
Earnings are subject to two requirements for a "qualified distribution" (tax-free and penalty-free):
Non-qualified distributions of earnings are subject to ordinary income tax plus a 10% early withdrawal penalty, with exceptions.
The 5-year clock starts on January 1 of the first year you made any Roth IRA contribution or conversion โ not the specific contribution date. Opening a Roth at age 57 means the 5-year rule is satisfied at 62, even if you met the 59ยฝ age requirement at 59ยฝ. For Roth conversions, each conversion amount has its own separate 5-year clock for the penalty (not the tax) exception.
The phase-out uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income, which adds back certain deductions (student loan interest, rental losses, etc.) to your AGI. MAGI can differ from the number on line 11 of your 1040.
Roth IRA contributions for 2026 can be made up to the tax filing deadline of April 15, 2027 (without extension).
The $7,500/$8,600 limit spans all IRAs โ you can't contribute $7,500 to a Roth and also $7,500 to a Traditional.
Original Roth IRA owners have no required minimum distributions, unlike Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s.
A non-working spouse can contribute to a Roth IRA if the working spouse has sufficient earned income (spousal IRA rules).
For planning, 6โ7% net annual return is reasonable for a diversified equity portfolio over long time horizons.
Aaliyah is 28 years old, single, and earns $62,000. Her MAGI is well below the $153,000 phase-out, so she's eligible for the full $7,500 Roth IRA contribution in 2026. She starts with a $4,000 balance from prior years and contributes $625/month (=$7,500/year). Assuming 7% average annual return: after 35 years at age 63, projected balance โ $1,050,000 โ all tax-free at qualified withdrawal. Total contributions over 35 years: $262,500 (plus $4,000 starting balance). Tax-free growth earned: ~$784,000.
Carlos files as single with a 2026 MAGI of $160,500. Phase-out range: $153,000โ$168,000. Portion through range: ($160,500 โ $153,000) รท $15,000 = 50% through phase-out. Maximum contribution = $7,500 ร (1 โ 0.50) = $3,750. Carlos can still make a meaningful Roth contribution; he just can't contribute the full amount. He contributes $3,750 to Roth and the remaining $3,750 to a non-deductible Traditional IRA, which he plans to convert via backdoor Roth next January when the balance is clean.
1. Contribute early in the calendar year rather than waiting until the April tax deadline โ earlier contributions earn an extra year of compounding.
2. Max out contributions annually if eligible โ the $7,500 annual limit cannot be carried forward or made up in later years.
3. Know your MAGI before contributing โ automated payroll can't calculate it for you, and an excess contribution penalty of 6% per year can quietly compound if uncorrected.
4. If you're above the income limit, explore the backdoor Roth โ it's legal, explicitly acknowledged by Congress in the legislative history of TCJA, and commonly used by high earners.
5. Open a Roth IRA as early as possible even with a small balance โ the 5-year clock starts the moment you make your first contribution, regardless of the amount.
6. Hold your highest-growth investments inside the Roth โ tax-free growth is most valuable on assets with the highest expected return (small-cap equity, emerging markets) rather than bonds, which can be held in taxable accounts more efficiently.
A: The 2026 Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,500 for individuals under age 50 and $8,600 for those 50 or older (including the $1,100 catch-up contribution), per IRS guidance. This is a combined cap across all IRAs โ Traditional and Roth together.
A: Direct Roth IRA contributions phase out at $153,000โ$168,000 MAGI for single filers and $242,000โ$252,000 for married filing jointly. Above the upper threshold, direct contributions are not allowed โ but the backdoor Roth strategy remains available.
A: A strategy for high earners: contribute to a non-deductible Traditional IRA, then immediately convert it to a Roth IRA. Since the contribution was already after-tax, the conversion is tax-free (assuming no other pre-tax IRA balances due to the pro-rata rule).
A: Individuals aged 50 and older can contribute an additional $1,100 catch-up, bringing the total Roth IRA contribution limit to $8,600 for 2026, per Fidelity. The combined catch-up applies to the individual's total IRA contributions across all accounts.
A: Contributions for tax year 2026 can be made through April 15, 2027. A tax filing extension does not extend the IRA contribution deadline beyond April 15.
A: They serve different purposes and aren't mutually exclusive. A 401(k) with an employer match should typically be funded first (up to the match). Then a Roth IRA offers tax diversification and no RMDs. After maxing the Roth, return to the 401(k) for additional contributions. The 2026 401(k) limit is $24,500 ($32,500 with catch-up for 50+).
A: Yes, but the combined contributions across both accounts cannot exceed the annual limit ($7,500 under 50 / $8,600 at 50+). You can split the contribution between account types as you choose, provided your income makes you eligible for each.
A: No. Original Roth IRA owners are never required to take RMDs during their lifetime. Inherited Roth IRAs are subject to the 10-year distribution rule under SECURE 2.0 for most non-spouse beneficiaries.
Brief disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational and planning purposes only. Actual Roth IRA contribution limits, phase-out ranges, and tax treatment depend on IRS regulations, your specific MAGI calculation, and filing status. Consult a qualified tax professional before making contribution decisions. Results should be treated as planning guidance rather than tax or investment advice.