The limit for contributions to Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs for the 2021 and 2022 tax years are $6,000 or $7,000 if you’re age 50 or older. But, there are restrictions that could affect how much you can contribute and what you can deduct on your tax return.
Key Takeaways
2021 and 2022 IRA Contribution Limits
For 2021 and 2022, the most you can contribute to your Roth and traditional IRAs is a total of:
$6,000 if you’re younger than age 50$7,000 if you’re age 50 or older
You have until the filing deadline of the following year to contribute to an IRA. So you can contribute to your IRA for 2022 until April 15, 2023.
You Can Only Contribute Earned Income
You must have earned income to contribute to an IRA. There are two ways to get earned income: work for someone else who pays you or own or run a business or farm.
Earned income includes money from wages, salaries, tips, bonuses, commissions, and self-employment income. Also, the IRS considers disability retirement benefits as earned income until you reach the age at which you could have received a pension or annuity if you didn’t have a disability.
Some types of income don’t count as earned income, including:
Child support
Income from rental property
Interest and dividends from investments
Pay you received while an inmate in a penal institution
Retirement income
Social Security
Unemployment benefits
For 2021 and 2022, you can contribute as much as $6,000 to an IRA or $7,000 if you’re age 50 and older. But you must have enough earned income to cover the contribution.
If your earned income for the year is less than the contribution limit, you can only contribute up to your earned income. For example, if you earned $3,000, you can contribute a maximum of $3,000.
Spousal IRAs
If you don’t have earned income, but your spouse does, you can open what’s called a spousal IRA. These accounts allow a person with earned income to contribute on behalf of their spouse, who doesn’t work for pay.
You can structure a spousal IRA as a traditional or Roth IRA. Either way, the spouse with earned income can contribute to the IRAs of both spouses, provided they have enough earned income to cover both contributions.
To be eligible for a spousal IRA, you must be married and file a joint tax return.
Roth IRA Income Limits
You can contribute to a traditional IRA regardless of how much money you earn. But you’re not eligible to open or contribute to a Roth IRA if you make too much money.
Here’s a rundown of the 2021 and 2022 Roth IRA income and contribution limits, based on your filing status and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI):
Filing Status
2021 Modified AGI
2022 Modified AGI
Contribution Limit
Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)
Less than $198,000
Less than $204,000
$6,000 ($7,000 if you’re age 50 or older)
$198,000 to $208,000
$204,000 to $213,999
Reduced
$208,000 or more
$214,000 or more
Not eligible
Single, head of household, or married filing separately (and you didn’t live with your spouse at any time during the year)
Less than $125,000
Less than $129,000
$6,000 ($7,000 if you’re age 50 or older)
$125,000 to $140,000
$129,000 to $143,999
Reduced
$140,000 or more
$144,000 or more
Not eligible
Married filing separately (if you lived with your spouse at any time during the year)
Less than $10,000
Less than $10,000
Reduced
$10,000 or more
$10,000 or more
Not eligible
There are still ways around the Roth IRA contribution limits. If you make a contribution to a nondeductible IRA, you can convert it to a Roth IRA. The same applies to nondeductible contributions made to a 401(k) plan.
Of course, any strategy that has tax implications should be reviewed by a qualified tax professional.
If you make too much money, you may still be able to contribute to a Roth IRA using a strategy called a backdoor Roth IRA.
Traditional IRA Deduction Limits
Unlike Roth IRAs, there are no income limits with traditional IRAs. And you can deduct your contributions in full if you and your spouse don’t have a 401(k) or some other retirement plan at work.
If either one of you is covered by a plan at work, however, the deduction may be reduced or eliminated. Here’s the full rundown of IRA deduction limits for 2021 and 2022:
If your filing status is…
And your 2021 modified AGI is…
And your 2022 Modified AGI is…
Then you can take…
Single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), married filing jointly or separately and neither spouse is covered by a plan at work
Any amount
Any amount
A full deduction up to the amount of your contribution limit
Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) and you’re covered by a plan at work
$105,000 or less
$109,000 or less
A full deduction up to the amount of your contribution limit
More than $105,000 but less than $125,000
More than $109,000 but less than $129,000
A partial deduction
$125,000 or more
$129,000 or more
No deduction
Married filing jointly and your spouse is covered by a plan at work
$197,000 or less
$204,000 or less
A full deduction up to the amount of your contribution limit
More than $197,000 but less than $207,000
More than $204,000 but less than $214,000
A partial deduction
$207,000 or more
$214,000 or more
No deduction
Single or head of household and you’re covered by a plan at work
$66,000 or less
$68,000 or less
A full deduction up to the amount of your contribution limit
More than $66,000 but less than $76,000
More than $68,000 but less than $78,000
A partial deduction
$76,000 or more
$78,000 or more
No deduction
Married filing separately and either spouse is covered by a plan at work
Less than $10,000
Less than $10,000
A partial deduction
$10,000 or more
$10,000 or more
No deduction
Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)
The IRS uses your MAGI when it comes to IRA limits. This number can be close (or identical) to your adjusted gross income (AGI). It takes your AGI and adds back certain deductions, including:
Half of any self-employment taxes
IRA contributions and Social Security
Losses from a publicly-traded partnership
Passive income or loss
Qualified tuition expenses
Rental losses
Student loan interest
The exclusion for adoption expenses
The exclusion for income from U.S. savings bonds
Tuition and fees
To calculate your MAGI, find your AGI from your tax return. It’s on line 11 of the 2021 Form 1040. Then, use Appendix B, Worksheet 1 from IRS Publication 590-A to modify your AGI for IRA purposes.
What If You Contribute Too Much?
It’s good to max out your IRA contributions. But if you go overboard, the IRS considers it an ineligible (or excess) contribution. If you contribute too much or contribute to a Roth when your income is too high, you’ll owe a 6% penalty on the excess contribution each year until you fix the mistake.
The good news is that there are several ways to fix your mistake:
Withdraw the excess contribution and any earnings on it before the April tax deadline.If you’ve already filed your tax return, remove the excess contribution and earnings and file an amended tax return by the October deadline.Apply the excess to next year’s contribution. You’ll still pay the 6% penalty this year, but you’ll be set going forward.Withdraw the excess next year by December 31. You’ll pay the penalty for two years and then move on.
Of course, it’s best to avoid excess contributions altogether. Be sure to pay attention to the IRS’ contribution limits for the year, keep track of your contributions, and watch your income. Just because you were eligible to contribute last year, it doesn’t mean you still are.
The Saver’s Credit
Many people with low to moderate incomes aren’t even aware of the saver’s credit, a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the taxes you owe. It was put into place in the early 2000s.
You could earn a credit of 10%, 20%, or 50% of your contributions, up to a dollar amount of $2,000 ($4,000 if married filing jointly) as long as you’re eligible. The saver’s credit is available to individuals, heads of households, and joint filers who contribute to an IRA, 401(k), or any other qualified retirement account, and whose adjusted gross income falls within certain parameters. You must be over 18, not a full-time student, and not listed as a dependent on anyone else’s tax return.
The income thresholds are adjusted annually. Here are the saver’s credit rates for 2021 and 2022:
Credit
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
All Other Filers
50%
AGI $39,500 or less
AGI $29,625 or less
AGI $19,750 or less
20%
$39,001 to $43,000
$29,625 to $32,250
$19,750 to $21,500
10%
$43,000 to $66,000
$32,250 to $49,500
$21,500 to $33,000
0%
More than $66,000
More than $49,500
More than $33,000
Credit
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
All Other Filers
50%
AGI $41,000 or less
AGI $30,750 or less
AGI $20,500 or less
20%
$41,000 to $44,000
$30,750 to $33,000
$20,500 to $22,000
10%
$44,000 to $68,000
$33,000 to $51,500
$22,000 to $34,000
0%
More than $68,000
More than $51,000
More than $34,000
A married couple with an AGI of, say, $60,000 could save $400 on their 2021 tax bill by contributing $2,000 to each ($4,000 total) of their IRAs (the 10% level). If they managed to contribute $4,000 with an income below $39,000, their tax credit would be $2,000 (50% of their contributions).
What Is the Contribution Deadline?
The contribution deadline for the previous year is the tax filing deadline. For example, the contribution deadline for 2021 is April 15, 2022.
Can a Minor Contribute to an IRA?
Yes, someone under the age of 18 can contribute to a Roth IRA or traditional IRA provided they meet the earned income requirements and do not earn over the income limits. However, opening the account will require a parent or guardian to be the custodian of the account.
What Is a Spousal IRA?
A spousal IRA is an IRA opened for a spouse with no earned income of their own, usually from providing unpaid labor to their household. To contribute to a spousal IRA, you must be married filing a joint tax return with enough earned income to cover both contributions.
Can You Get a Company Match on Your IRA Contributions?
If you have a SIMPLE IRA, yes you can get a company match. For a traditional IRA or Roth IRA, you cannot get a direct company match on your contributions, but some employers do offer incentives for employees who open or contribute to an IRA, like a gift card or other bonus.
The Bottom Line
Contribution limits apply to other types of IRAs, as well. For the self-employed and small business owners, the contribution limit for Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs and solo 401(k) plans is 25% of compensation, up to $58,000 in 2021 ($61,000 in 2022).
If you have a Savings Incentive Match Plan (SIMPLE) IRA, you can make salary deferrals (salary reduction contributions) up to $13,500 for 2021 ($14,000 for 2022). If you’re age 50 or older, you can add an extra $3,000.
Any type of IRA is an excellent way to save for retirement. But to take full advantage of these accounts—and avoid any trouble or penalties—be sure to follow the rules for contribution, income, and deduction limits. The limits change periodically, so check back each year to make sure you comply.
Correction-March 7, 2022: Previous versions of this article listed alimony (spousal support) as unearned income. Since 2020, this form of income is now recognized as earned income.
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