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How Your Roth IRA Contribution Limit Is Calculated
The primary factors for determining your contribution limit are your filing status and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which is your income after considering certain allowable deductions and tax penalties. Based on these two factors, you may be eligible to contribute the max, a reduced amount, or none at all.
Contributions to a Roth account are made post-tax, but all earnings grow tax-free. Withdrawals of the contributions made during retirement are made tax-free. However, only earned income can be contributed to a Roth IRA.
Also, contributions to Roth IRAs are limited and can be reduced or phased out, depending on your annual income. The table below highlights the maximum amount of income that you can earn before being ineligible to contribute to a Roth and the income phase-out ranges where your contributions are reduced.
| 2021 and 2022 Roth IRA Income Limits | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 $207,999 | $204,000 to $214,000 | 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 $139,999 | $129,000 to $144,000 | 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 | |
Example of How a Reduced Limit Is Calculated
Below is an example of how the reduced limit is calculated for someone who is filing as single, head of household, or married and filing separately (and you didn’t live with your spouse at any time during the year).
- Start with your modified 2021 AGI.
- Subtract $125,000 (based on tax filing status).
- Divide the result by $15,000.
- Multiply by your maximum contribution limit.
- Subtract the result of #4 from the maximum contribution limit.
Please note that the divisor (in step #3) of $15,000 is set by the IRS, depending on your tax filing status. If your return is filed as married filing jointly or as a widower, you will use $10,000 as the divisor.
| Example Scenario 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Filing Status | Single |
| Modified AGI | $128,000 |
| Age | 49 |
- 2021 MAGI: $128,000
- $128,000 – $125,000 = $3,000
- $3000 / $15,000 = 0.2
- 0.2 * $6,000 = $1,200
- $6,000 – $1,200 = $4,800
Using the example information above, the calculated reduced limit would be $4,800 for this individual.
Details of Roth IRA Contributions
The Roth IRA has contribution limits, which are $6,000 for 2021 and 2022. If you’re age 50 or older, then you can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution in both 2021 and 2022. Contributions, not earnings, can be withdrawn tax-free at any time.
It’s worth noting that an investor can have both a Roth and traditional IRA and contribute to both, but the contribution limits apply across all IRA accounts. For example, suppose an investor contributes $4,000 to a Roth IRA. In that case, that same investor could contribute $2,000 to their traditional IRA in that same year (assuming their contributions are not limited by their MAGI). If that taxpayer is age 50 or older, they could contribute an additional $1,000.
Age Contributions Limits
There is no age limit for making contributions to an IRA account. First, there has never been an age limit on Roth IRAs, but traditional IRA contributions had an age limit of 70½. However, that limit was removed with the passage of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019.
With a traditional IRA, your ability to participate in a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k), will dictate if and how much you can contribute to the IRA. With a Roth IRA, participation in a qualified retirement plan has no bearing.
Roth IRA Contributions and Low-Income
Roth IRA contributions are not tax-deductible. They are made with after-tax dollars. However, lower- and moderate-income taxpayers may qualify for the Saver’s Credit.
This tax break allows for a tax credit of between 10% and 50% for the amount contributed to a Roth IRA. Depending on the filing status, adjusted gross income (AGI), and Roth IRA contribution, the credit can be up to $2,000.
For the tax year 2021, the top-end income limits are $66,000 for those married filing jointly, $49,500 for head-of-household filers, and $33,000 for single taxpayers.
For the tax year 2022, the top-end income limits are $68,000 for those married filing jointly, $51,000 for head-of-household filers, and $34,000 for single taxpayers.
Withdrawals and the CARES Act
The passage of the CARES Act in March 2020 allowed for the withdrawal of up to $100,000 from Roth or traditional IRAs without having to pay the 10% early withdrawal fee.
This hardship withdrawal was allowed for those economically affected by the pandemic. The account holder has three years to pay taxes owed on withdrawals versus having to pay them in the current year. In addition, the withdrawals can be repaid, and no taxes owed. The repayment amount doesn’t count toward the contribution limit.
What Is Modified Adjusted Gross Income?
Modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI, is your adjusted gross income minus certain allowable deductions and tax penalties. The IRS uses your MAGI to determine whether you qualify for certain tax benefits. Your MAGI must be below specified limits, set by the IRS, in order to contribute to a Roth IRA, for example.
Can You Be Too Old to Contribute to a Roth IRA?
There is no age limit to opening and contributing to a Roth IRA. There used to be an age limit of 70½ for contributing to a traditional IRA, but that was done away with by the SECURE Act of 2019.
How Much Can You Contribute to a Roth IRA in 2021?
You can contribute up to $6,000, or $7,000 if you are 50 or older. But your tax filing status and modified adjusted gross income may limit the amount that you can contribute.
