IRA and Roth IRA guides
An IRA is a retirement account you open yourself, separate from any plan at work. These guides explain how Roth and traditional IRAs work, the ways to get money into a Roth, and where to open one.
15 guides and 3 calculators
IRA and Roth conversion calculators
RMD calculator
This year's required minimum distribution from your balance and age.
Source: IRS Pub. 590-B Uniform Lifetime Table, 2026 figures
Estimate your RMD →Roth conversion calculator
Federal tax on a Roth conversion, the pro-rata split, and your break-even rate.
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, 2026 figures
Price a conversion →Roth conversion plan
Paid planHow much to convert each year to fill your bracket, with state tax and IRMAA.
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and CMS 2026 Medicare premiums, 2026 figures
Build a conversion plan →
Key 2026 figures
From IRS Notice 2025-67, the same source the calculators use.
| Figure | 2026 |
|---|---|
| IRA contribution limit | $7,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and older | $1,100 |
| Roth IRA phase-out, single | $153,000 to $168,000 |
| Roth IRA phase-out, married filing jointly | $242,000 to $252,000 |
Best IRA accounts
Roundups of where to open a Roth or traditional IRA, compared on fees, funds, and matches.
IRA provider reviews
One provider at a time: account types, fees, any IRA match, and what it costs to leave.
IRAs for kids
Retirement accounts a child can own, and the rules that differ from an adult IRA.
Key terms
- Roth IRA
- A retirement account you fund with money you have already paid tax on. Growth and qualified withdrawals are not taxed.What is a Roth IRA? →
- Traditional IRA
- A retirement account you fund yourself. The contribution may be deductible, the money grows without annual tax, and withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.What is a traditional IRA? →
- Backdoor Roth IRA
- A nondeductible traditional IRA contribution followed by a Roth conversion, used when your income is over the Roth limit.What is a backdoor Roth IRA? →
- Mega backdoor Roth
- After-tax 401(k) contributions above the deferral limit, then converted to Roth inside the plan or rolled out to a Roth IRA.What is a mega backdoor Roth? →
- Pro-rata rule
- The rule that taxes a Roth conversion in proportion to the pre-tax money across all your traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs, not just the account you convert.What is a backdoor Roth IRA? →
Frequently asked questions
What is the IRA contribution limit for 2026?
The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,500, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older. It is one limit shared across every IRA you own, traditional and Roth together, not a separate cap per account.
Learn more: What is a Roth IRA?
What is the difference between a Roth and a traditional IRA?
The difference is when you pay the tax. A traditional IRA can give you a deduction now and taxes the withdrawal later; a Roth gives no deduction and never taxes a qualified withdrawal. If your tax rate is the same in both years, the two come out the same.
Learn more: The key differences between a Roth and traditional IRA
Who can contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026?
Anyone with earned income, up to an income limit. For 2026 the Roth contribution phases out between $153,000 and $168,000 of modified AGI for single filers, and between $242,000 and $252,000 for joint filers.
Learn more: What is a Roth IRA?
What is a backdoor Roth IRA?
A backdoor Roth IRA is a two-step sequence, not an account type: a nondeductible contribution to a traditional IRA, then a Roth conversion of that money. It works because neither step has an income limit, even though a direct Roth contribution does.
Learn more: What is a backdoor Roth IRA?
Does a traditional IRA have required minimum distributions?
Yes. A traditional IRA requires withdrawals starting at age 73 for people born 1951 through 1959, and at age 75 for those born in 1960 or later. A Roth IRA has no required withdrawals for the original owner.
Learn more: What is a traditional IRA?
Where should I open an IRA?
Compare providers on account minimum, ongoing cost, and investment selection rather than brand. Schwab, Fidelity, and Vanguard charge no advisory fee on a self-directed IRA and offer the widest selection, while a few app-first brokers pay a match on what you contribute.
Learn more: 6 best IRA accounts for 2026