Update: this article has been updated for the 2022 and 2023 calendar years. The IRS has announced the 2023 maximum IRA contribution limit, which is the max that individuals can contribute to their IRAs in a given calendar year. The 2023 maximum IRA contribution limit will be $6,500 an increase of $500 over the 2022 maximum IRA contribution limit. Read on for expanded details, as income limits have also changed.
Similar to 401Ks, the maximum IRA contribution limit is set annually by the IRS and it is the limit that any individual can legally contribute to their IRA plans. The IRS determines increases by reviewing the consumer price index (CPI) annually. The maximum IRA contribution limit applies to both Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. You should note that you can have each type of account (and multiple of each type), but the annual maximum contribution is for both types of plans and is a cumulative total for all of your Traditional and Roth IRA accounts combined.
Below, we’ll cover the 2022 and 2023 maximum IRA contribution limits, income limits and phaseouts, and how to get the most out of your IRA accounts.
2022 Maximum IRA Contribution Limits
The standard 2022 maximum IRA contribution limit is $6,000. This is no change versus the 2021 limit.
2022 IRA Catch-up Contribution
For those age 50 and over, the 2022 IRA catch-up contribution also stayed the same, at an additional $1,000. With the standard contribution at $6,000, this means the 2022 catch-up contribution plus standard contribution is $7,000 in total.
2023 Maximum IRA Contribution Limits
The standard 2023 maximum IRA contribution limit is $6,500. This is a $500 increase over the 2022 limit, as previously noted.
2023 IRA Catch-up Contribution
For those age 50 and over, the 2023 IRA catch-up contribution stays the same as the prior year, at an additional $1,000. With the standard contribution at $6,500, this means the 2023 catch-up contribution plus standard contribution is $7,500 in total.
Historical Maximum IRA Contribution Limits: 2023 vs 2022 vs Prior Years
Prior to 2023, the last IRA contribution limit increase came in the 2019 calendar year. When the IRS increases the limits, they usually do it in $500 increments. Because IRA limits are lower, they happen infrequently compared to maximum 401K contribution limit increases.
IRAs have a relatively short history in the American retirement system. Their first year of existence was 1975. Here is how the historical IRA contribution limit has changed in recent years since then:
| Years: | Maximum IRA Contribution (age under 50) | Maximum IRA Contribution (including "catch-up" contribution for those age 50+) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $6,500 | $7,500 |
| 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 | $6,000 | $7,000 |
| 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | $5,500 | $6,500 |
| 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 | $5,000 | $6,000 |
| 2006, 2007 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| 2005 | $4,000 | $4,500 |
| 2002, 2003, 2004 | $3,000 | $3,500 |
| 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
Next, let’s cover income limits for contributing to IRAs.
2022 Traditional IRA Income Limits
IRAs provide a great way to limit your tax liability in the present (Traditional IRA) and in the future (Roth IRA). There are, however, contribution phaseout limits that are based on your income. The good news is that IRA income phaseout limits (also tied to CPI) increased in 2022 and 2023.
Keep in mind that with Traditional IRAs, the limits and phaseouts only dictate how much you can deduct from your taxes, not if you can contribute or not. With Roths, the limits and phaseouts dictate how much you can actually contribute, since Roth contributions are not deductible.
Traditional IRA income limits vary slightly from Roth IRAs (which I’ll get to in a bit) in that they are tied to whether or not you your employer sponsors a retirement plan for you.
The 2022 Traditional IRA income limits are as follows:
If you DO HAVE a retirement plan with your employer:
- Single or head of household: If your modified gross adjusted income (MAGI) is $68,000 (up from $66,000) or less, you can take a full deduction. If more than $68,000, but less than $78,000 (up from $76,000) – you get a partial deduction. If over $78,000, you cannot take a deduction.
- Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er): If your MAGI is $109,000 (up from $105,000) or less, you can take a full deduction. If more than $109,000, but less than $129,000 (up from $125,000) – you get a partial deduction. If over $129,000, no deduction.
- Married filing separately: If your MAGI is less than $10,000 (same as prior year), you can take a partial deduction. If $10,000 or more, no deduction.
If you DO NOT HAVE a retirement plan through an employer:
- Single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er): Any MAGI permits a full deduction.
- Married filing jointly or separately with a spouse who is not covered by a plan at work: Any MAGI permits a full deduction.
- Married filing jointly with a spouse who is covered by a plan at work: If your MAGI is $204,000 or less (up from $198,000), you can take a full deduction. If more than $204,000, but less than $214,000 (up from $208,000), you can take a partial deduction. If $214,000 or more, no deduction at all.
- Married filing separately with a spouse who is covered by a plan at work: If your MAGI is less than $10,000, you can claim a partial deduction. If $10,000 or more, no deduction.
2022 Roth IRA Income Limits
The 2022 Roth IRA income phaseout limits are as follows:
- Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er): If your modified gross adjusted income (MAGI) is $204,000 (up from $198,000) or less, you can contribute up to the $6,000 max. If at least $204,000 up to $214,000 (up $6,000), your contribution limit is phased out (see IRS publication 590). If $214,000 and above, you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.
- Single, head of household, or married filing separately and you did not live with your spouse at any time during the year: If under $129,000 (up from $125,000), you can contribute up to the $6,000 maximum. If at least $129,000 up to $144,000 (was $140,000), your contribution limit is phased out. If $144,000 and up, you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.
- Married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time during the year: If MAGI is between $0 and $10,000, your contribution limit will phase out. If $0, you can contribute up to the $6,000 maximum ($7,000 if over 50 years old). If $10,000 and above, you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.
2023 Traditional IRA Income Limits
The 2023 Traditional IRA income limits are as follows:
If you DO HAVE a retirement plan with your employer:
- Single or head of household: If your modified gross adjusted income (MAGI) is $73,000 (up from $68,000) or less, you can take a full deduction. If more than $73,000, but less than $83,000 (up from $78,000) – you get a partial deduction. If over $83,000, you cannot take a deduction.
- Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er): If your MAGI is $116,000 (up from $109,000) or less, you can take a full deduction. If more than $116,000, but less than $136,000 (up from $129,000) – you get a partial deduction. If over $136,000, no deduction.
- Married filing separately: If your MAGI is less than $10,000 (same as prior year), you can take a partial deduction. If $10,000 or more, no deduction.
If you DO NOT HAVE a retirement plan through an employer:
- Single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er): Any MAGI permits a full deduction.
- Married filing jointly or separately with a spouse who is not covered by a plan at work: Any MAGI permits a full deduction.
- Married filing jointly with a spouse who is covered by a plan at work: If your MAGI is $218,000 or less (up from $204,000), you can take a full deduction. If more than $218,000, but less than $228,000 (up from $214,000), you can take a partial deduction. If $228,000 or more, no deduction at all.
- Married filing separately with a spouse who is covered by a plan at work: If your MAGI is less than $10,000, you can claim a partial deduction. If $10,000 or more, no deduction.
2023 Roth IRA Income Limits
The 2023 Roth IRA income phaseout limits are as follows:
- Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er): If your modified gross adjusted income (MAGI) is $218,000 (up from $204,000) or less, you can contribute up to the $6,500 max. If at least $218,000 up to $228,000 (up $14,000), your contribution limit is phased out (see IRS publication 590). If $228,000 and above, you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.
- Single, head of household, or married filing separately and you did not live with your spouse at any time during the year: If under $138,000 (up from $129,000), you can contribute up to the $6,500 maximum. If at least $138,000 up to $153,000 (was $144,000), your contribution limit is phased out. If $153,000 and up, you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.
- Married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time during the year: If MAGI is between $0 and $10,000, your contribution limit will phase out. If $0, you can contribute up to the $6,500 maximum ($7,500 if over 50 years old). If $10,000 and above, you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.
IRA Tips
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your IRAs:
- Spousal IRA Contributions: take advantage of spousal IRA contributions! If you are married, you should become familiar with how spousal IRA contributions work, as a spousal IRA could dramatically boost your family’s IRA contributions in a given year if either you or your spouse don’t earn qualifying income.
- Self-Employment Income: you may be able to deduct business related expenses and your home office and can contribute a portion of your income to self-employment retirement accounts, such as a solo 401K, SIMPLE IRA, or SEP IRA.
- Backdoor Roth IRA: if your income is over the Traditional and Roth IRA income limits, a Backdoor Roth IRA could be a smart move (if you follow proper caution).
- Tax Credit for Contributing: if your income is low enough, you might also qualify for the Saver’s Credit for contributing to one of these types of retirement accounts.
- IRA Consolidation: if you have old 401Ks sitting around from jobs long forgotten, you should consider consolidating your 401Ks and rolling over to an IRA. IRAs typically have lower fees associated with them.
- Contribution Deadline: note that the IRA contribution deadline for the any given calendar year is up until the tax deadline the following April. And you can begin contributing for a calendar year on Jan. 1 of that year.
Maximum IRA Contribution Discussion:
Will you contribute to an IRA for the 2022 and 2023 calendar years? How much?
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