If you and your spouse were not covered by a work-based retirement plan in 2026, your traditional IRA contributions are fully tax deductible. If you were covered by a work-based plan, you can take a full deduction if you're single and had a 2026 modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $81,000 or less, or married filing jointly, with a 2026 MAGI of $129,000 or less. You may be able to take a partial deduction if your MAGI fell within the following limits.
| Filing Status | 2026 MAGI Phase-Out Range (Partial Deduction) |
|---|---|
| Single or Head of Household | $81,000 – $91,000 |
| Married Filing Jointly (covered spouse) | $129,000 – $149,000 |
| Married Filing Separately | $0 – $10,000 |
If you were not covered by a work-based plan but your spouse was, you can take a full deduction if your joint MAGI was $242,000 or less, a partial deduction if your MAGI fell between $242,000 and $252,000, and no deduction if your MAGI was $252,000 or more.
If you can't make a deductible traditional IRA contribution, a Roth IRA may be a more appropriate alternative. Although Roth IRA contributions are not tax-deductible, qualified distributions are tax-free. You can make a full Roth IRA contribution for 2026 if you're single and your MAGI was $153,000 or less, or married filing jointly, with a 2026 MAGI of $242,000 or less. Partial contributions may be allowed if your MAGI fell within the following limits.
| Filing Status | 2026 MAGI Phase-Out Range (Partial Contributions) |
|---|---|
| Single or Head of Household | $153,000 – $168,000 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $242,000 – $252,000 |
| Married Filing Separately | $0 – $10,000 |
Tip: If you can't make an annual contribution to a Roth IRA because of the income limits, there is a workaround. You can make a nondeductible contribution to a traditional IRA and then immediately convert that traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. (This is sometimes called a backdoor Roth IRA.) Keep in mind, however, that you'll need to aggregate all traditional IRAs and SEP/SIMPLE IRAs you own - other than IRAs you've inherited - when you calculate the taxable portion of your conversion.
A qualified distribution from a Roth IRA is one made after the account is held for at least five years and the account owner reaches age 59½, becomes disabled, or dies. If you make a contribution - no matter how small - to a Roth IRA for 2026 by your tax return due date, and it is your first Roth IRA contribution, your five-year holding period starts on January 1, 2026.
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