Traditional IRA Income and Contribution Limits - NerdWallet (2024)

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An individual retirement account (IRA) offers tax advantages for saving for retirement, and knowing the rules around contributions, tax incentives, and withdrawals can help you make the most of them.

With a traditional IRA, you get the tax benefits upfront. Contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax-deductible in the year they're made, which could help lower your taxable income. Investments in the account (including any earnings) grow tax-deferred until you make withdrawals, which are taxed as ordinary income.

That upfront tax break is one of the main things that differentiates traditional IRAs from Roth IRAs, which are funded with post-tax dollars and allow no tax deductions for contributions.

» Dive deeper: Our explainer on traditional IRA withdrawal rules

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Traditional IRA contribution rules

The IRS imposes a total combined limit for IRA contributions each year. That means you can have multiple IRAs, such as a traditional and a Roth, and contribute to them every year, but there’s a cap on total contributions.

For 2024, the IRA contribution limit is $7,000 for those under 50, and $8,000 for those age 50 and older.

» Learn more: Read our step-by-step guide to opening an IRA

A few other rules around traditional IRA contributions:

  • Having earned income is a requirement for contributing to a traditional IRA, and your annual contributions to an IRA cannot exceed what you earned that year. If your taxable earned income for the year is $4,000, that’s also your IRA contribution limit.

  • While there are no income restrictions for contributing to a traditional IRA, the amount you can deduct may be limited by your income. Other factors, such as filing status, whether you’re covered by a workplace retirement plan, and more could also affect whether you can deduct your IRA contributions.

  • There is no minimum required amount for opening an IRA, and no rules about how much money you must deposit. Note that brokers set their own account minimums, but the requirement is often lower for IRAs versus taxable brokerage accounts. At some brokers, the account minimum for IRAs is $0.

  • If you’re a nonworking spouse, you can have what’s called a spousal IRA as long as your spouse earns enough to cover the contribution. That means if you both want to contribute the maximum to an IRA, and you’re both under 50, your spouse will need to earn at least $14,000 (to cover the $7,000 annual maximum for each of you in 2024).

  • The contribution limit doesn’t apply to transfers from other retirement accounts, such as those used to create a rollover IRA. You should also note the deadline for IRA contributions for any given tax year is tax day — typically April 15 — of the following calendar year. That means you have until April of 2025 to contribute to your IRA for tax year 2024.

» Ready to get started? See our top picks for best IRA accounts

Traditional IRA income limits

The traditional IRA has no income limits for contributing, unlike the Roth IRA. Anyone can contribute, but your ability to deduct contributions may be reduced or eliminated depending on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), your filing status, and whether you, or your spouse, have an employer retirement plan.

The below traditional IRA income limits apply only if you (or your spouse) have a retirement plan at work.

Filing status

2024 traditional IRA income limit

Deduction limit

Single or head of household (and covered by retirement plan at work)

$77,000 or less.

Full deduction.

More than $77,000, but less than $87,000.

Partial deduction.

$87,000 or more.

No deduction.

Married filing jointly (and covered by retirement plan at work)

$123,000 or less.

Full deduction.

More than $123,000, but less than $143,000.

Partial deduction.

$143,000 or more.

No deduction.

Married filing jointly (spouse covered by retirement plan at work)

$230,000 or less.

Full deduction.

More than $230,000, but less than $240,000.

Partial deduction.

$240,000 or more.

No deduction.

Married filing separately (you or spouse covered by retirement plan at work)

Less than $10,000.

Partial deduction.

$10,000 or more.

No deduction.

» For comparison: See Roth IRA income and contribution limits

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Traditional IRA Income and Contribution Limits - NerdWallet (2)

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Traditional IRA Income and Contribution Limits - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

Traditional IRA Income and Contribution Limits - NerdWallet? ›

There are no income limits for traditional IRAs. The IRA contribution limit is $7,000, or $8,000 for individuals 50 or older in 2024. Arielle O'Shea leads the investing and taxes team at NerdWallet.

Is there a limit on traditional IRA contributions based on income? ›

There are no income limitations to contribute to a non-deductible Traditional IRA, and the maximum contribution per year is $6,500 for tax year 2023 and $7,000 for tax year 2024 ($7,500 for tax year 2023 and $8,000 for tax year 2024 if you're age 50 or over).

Can I contribute to a traditional IRA if I make over 200k? ›

No, there is no maximum traditional IRA income limit. Anyone can contribute to a traditional IRA. While a Roth IRA has a strict income limit and those with earnings above it cannot contribute at all, no such rule applies to a traditional IRA.

What happens if I contribute to a traditional IRA and my income is too high? ›

You'll pay a 6% penalty while the excess contribution is on the books, but may avoid future penalties. Roth IRA option: Move the excess to a traditional IRA. If you have a Roth IRA, another way to avoid penalties is to transfer the excess amount and any earnings into a traditional IRA.

What is considered earned income for IRA contributions? ›

Contributions. To contribute to a traditional IRA, you, and/or your spouse if you file a joint return, must have taxable compensation, such as wages, salaries, commissions, tips, bonuses, or net income from self-employment. For tax years beginning after 2019, there is no age limit to contribute to a traditional IRA.

Why are there income limits on IRA contributions? ›

Contributions to a traditional individual retirement account (IRA), Roth IRA, 401(k), and other retirement savings plans are limited by law so that highly paid employees don't benefit more than the average worker from the tax advantages that they provide.

Are IRA contributions limits based on gross or net income? ›

If you are covered by an employer retirement plan at work, your deduction for your contributions to your traditional IRAs are generally limited based on your modified adjusted gross income.

Can I contribute to a Roth IRA if I make 180k a year? ›

You can contribute to a Roth IRA if your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is: Less than $153,000 (single filer) 2023 tax year. Less than $228,000 (joint filer) 2023 tax year. Less than $161,000 (single filer) 2024 tax year.

Can I contribute full $6,000 to IRA if I have a 401k? ›

If you participate in an employer's retirement plan, such as a 401(k), and your adjusted gross income (AGI) is equal to or less than the number in the first column for your tax filing status, you are able to make and deduct a traditional IRA contribution up to the maximum of $7,000, or $8,000 if you're 50 or older, in ...

Can I contribute as much as I want to a traditional IRA? ›

How much can I contribute to an IRA? The annual contribution limit for 2023 is $6,500, or $7,500 if you're age 50 or older (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 is $6,000, or $7,000 if you're age 50 or older). The annual contribution limit for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 is $5,500, or $6,500 if you're age 50 or older.

Will contributing to a traditional IRA lower my taxes? ›

The IRS categorizes the IRA deduction as an above-the-line deduction, meaning you can take it regardless of whether you itemize or claim the standard deduction. This deduction reduces your taxable income for the year, which ultimately reduces the amount of income tax you pay.

What is not counted as income? ›

Nontaxable income won't be taxed, whether or not you enter it on your tax return. The following items are deemed nontaxable by the IRS: Inheritances, gifts and bequests. Cash rebates on items you purchase from a retailer, manufacturer or dealer.

Does Social Security count as income for IRA contributions? ›

Non-taxable income from Social Security, pensions or investments doesn't count. But earnings from a part-time or consulting job, for instance, would be included. Check with your tax advisor to see if your income would affect your eligibility to contribute to a Roth IRA.

What is not considered earned income? ›

Earned income does not include amounts such as pensions and annuities, welfare benefits, unemployment compensation, worker's compensation benefits, or social security benefits. For tax years after 2003, members of the military who receive excludable combat zone compensation may elect to include it in earned income.

Are there income limits on traditional and Roth IRA? ›

You may contribute simultaneously to a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA (subject to eligibility) as long as the total contributed to all (Traditional and/or Roth) IRAs totals no more than $6,500 ($7,500 for those age 50 and over) for tax year 2023 and no more than $7,000 ($8,000 for those age 50 and over) for tax year ...

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