Traditional IRA Deduction Calculator 2026
Estimate whether your 2026 Traditional IRA contribution is fully deductible, partly deductible, or nondeductible based on filing status, modified adjusted gross income, and workplace plan coverage.
Last updated: April 3, 2026
Calculator
This estimate uses the official 2026 IRS phaseout ranges. It is a planning tool and does not replace the final IRA deduction worksheet on your tax return.
2026 deduction phaseout ranges used
- Single or head of household and covered by a workplace plan: $81,000 to $91,000
- Married filing jointly and contributor covered by a workplace plan: $129,000 to $149,000
- Married filing jointly, contributor not covered, spouse covered: $242,000 to $252,000
- Married filing separately and covered by a workplace plan: $0 to $10,000
The annual IRA contribution limit used in this tool is $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up amount if you are age 50 or older. That annual cap is shared across Traditional and Roth IRAs.
How to use this calculator well
Start with the contribution you actually plan to make, not just the maximum possible amount. Then use your best estimate of modified adjusted gross income instead of salary alone. The deduction rule is based on modified income, so a high salary and a high modified income are often close, but they are not always identical.
The workplace plan questions matter because they decide which IRS phaseout range applies. Many people miss the spouse-coverage rule on joint returns and assume they either get the full deduction or no deduction. The real answer often lands in the middle.
What the result means
If the calculator shows a full deduction, your entered income is below the relevant phaseout range. If it shows a partial deduction, your income is inside the phaseout band and only part of the contribution is deductible. If the deductible amount is zero, the contribution may still be allowed, but it is treated as nondeductible for federal income tax purposes.
That difference matters. A nondeductible Traditional IRA contribution is not the same as an ineligible contribution. It may still be useful, but it creates basis-tracking and strategy questions that deserve a second look.
Quick examples
Single filer with workplace coverage
If you are single, covered by a workplace plan, and your modified adjusted gross income is $78,000, you are below the 2026 phaseout range. A qualifying Traditional IRA contribution is generally fully deductible.
Joint filer in the middle of the range
If you file jointly, are covered by a workplace plan, and your modified adjusted gross income is $139,000, you are inside the $129,000 to $149,000 phaseout range. The deduction is only partial.
Spouse-coverage case
If you are not covered by a workplace plan but your spouse is, a joint return can still qualify for a deduction at much higher income levels than the main workplace-plan range. That is why this calculator asks about both people.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the contribution limit and the deduction limit.
- Using salary instead of modified adjusted gross income.
- Ignoring spouse workplace-plan coverage on a joint return.
- Forgetting that Traditional and Roth IRA contributions share one annual cap.
Related pages
FAQ
Can I contribute if the deduction is zero?
Often yes, as long as you otherwise qualify to contribute and stay under the annual IRA contribution limit. The issue is deductibility, not necessarily contribution eligibility.
Does a 401(k) block a Traditional IRA contribution?
No. A workplace plan can reduce or eliminate the deduction, but it does not automatically block the contribution itself.
Does this calculator include state taxes?
No. It focuses on the federal deduction rules for 2026.