IRA Calculator — contributions capped, balance projected

How it works

Two steps. Cap: your contribution is limited to the IRS annual figure for your age, read from a reviewed data pack of the 2026 limits — $7,500 under 50, $8,600 at 50 and over. Project: the current balance grows at your return (futureValue) and the capped contribution accumulates by the savings-annuity formula. The limit is a combined ceiling across all your traditional and Roth IRAs, not per account — a distinction the page enforces by capping the single contribution you enter. The catch-up at 50 is the one age tier here, simpler than a 401(k)'s three.

IRS IRA contribution limits — 2026 (IRS.gov, read 2026-07-22)

Source: IRS, retirement-topics IRA contribution limits. The $8,600 is the published age-50+ total. Limits adjust annually; this pack is re-reviewed when the 2027 figures publish.

Worked example

On the default plan — $6,000 a year from age 35 to 67 at 7%, on a $20,000 balance — the $6,000 is under the $7,500 limit, so it stands uncapped, and this calculator grows the balance plus the contributions to roughly $850,000 by 67. Contribute more than the limit and it caps: the age-55 preset holds $8,600, its own computation from the published figures.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I contribute to an IRA in 2026?

$7,500 if you're under 50, $8,600 at 50 or older with the catch-up — and that is a combined limit across all your traditional and Roth IRAs, not per account. Splitting between a traditional and a Roth IRA doesn't raise the ceiling.

Is the limit separate from my 401(k)?

Yes — the IRA limit is entirely separate from the 401(k) elective-deferral limit, so you can contribute to both in the same year up to each ceiling. The 401(k) calculator prices that side; many savers use both.

Traditional or Roth IRA — which does this model?

The contribution limit is identical for both, so the projected balance here applies to either. The difference is tax treatment — traditional contributions may be deductible and withdrawals taxed, Roth contributions are after-tax and qualified withdrawals tax-free — which the Roth IRA calculator addresses along with its income phase-outs.

What if I contribute more than the limit?

Excess contributions face an IRS penalty until corrected, which is why the page caps the figure at the limit rather than projecting an impossible amount. Confirm your eligibility — high earners face Roth income limits, and traditional deductibility phases out with a workplace plan.

Why does the projection assume a constant contribution?

For a clean estimate: it holds the contribution and the current-age limit level across the horizon. Real limits rise with annual inflation adjustments and the catch-up kicks in at 50, so a long projection understates what a maxed-out saver could actually contribute.

When do I have to take the money out?

Traditional IRAs require minimum distributions starting at age 73; Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs for the original owner. The RMD calculator prices the withdrawals; this page stops at the balance you accumulate.

How accurate is this, and what does it exclude?

The IRS limit is applied exactly and the projection is standard compound growth. It excludes annual COLA increases to the limit, the catch-up starting mid-horizon, income-based eligibility phase-outs, fees, and taxes. Treat it as a level-assumption estimate and confirm your eligibility with the IRS rules or a tax advisor.