Roth IRA Qualification Calculator
Answer a few quick questions to see whether you qualify to contribute to a Roth IRA this year and the maximum amount the IRS allows.
Eligibility Check
Answer each question below
All eligibility requirements are met
Eligibility Checklist
IRS Qualification Rules at a Glance
You must have taxable compensation, wages, salaries, tips, self employment income, or combat pay. Investment income, pensions, and Social Security alone do not qualify.
Your modified adjusted gross income must fall below the IRS thresholds for your filing status. Above the upper limit, you cannot contribute directly (but backdoor Roth is available).
Your contribution cannot exceed your earned income for the year OR the IRS annual limit ($7,000 under 50, $8,000 at 50+), whichever is less.
How the Eligibility Check Works
The calculator runs three tests in order. You need earned income, your MAGI must be below the top of your filing status’s phase out range, and your contribution can’t exceed the limit that remains.
Each test appears in the checklist with a pass, warning, or fail icon, so you can see exactly which rule affects you.
Earned income test
You must have taxable compensation, such as wages or self employment income, to contribute.
Income limit test
Your MAGI is compared with the phase out range for your filing status.
Contribution cap
Your maximum is the smallest of the IRS limit, the phase out limit, and your earned income.
What Is the Formula for Your Maximum Contribution?
Your allowed amount is the lowest of three numbers, so a small paycheck or a high MAGI can each reduce it.
- Earned income
- Taxable compensation you received this year from working.
- MAGI
- Modified adjusted gross income used to test Roth eligibility.
- Lower / Upper
- $150,000 to $165,000 single or head of household, $236,000 to $246,000 joint, $0 to $10,000 separate.
- Base
- The annual IRS contribution limit for your age.
Inside the range, the phase out limit is rounded up to the next $10 and never drops below $200. For 2026, the base limits rise to $7,500 and $8,600.
Which Income Counts as Compensation?
The earned income test trips up many people. Only income you work for counts; investment and benefit income does not.
| Income type | Counts toward eligibility? |
|---|---|
| Wages, salary, tips, bonuses | Yes |
| Net self employment income | Yes |
| Commissions | Yes |
| Nontaxable combat pay | Yes |
| Taxable alimony (divorce before 2019) | Yes |
| Interest, dividends, capital gains | No |
| Rental income | No |
| Pension, annuity, or Social Security income | No |
| Unemployment benefits | No |
A spouse without compensation can still qualify through a spousal Roth IRA if the couple files jointly.
Example: A Student With a Part Time Job
A 19 year old college student earned $4,500 from a summer job. They file as single and have no other income.
- 1Earned income test: $4,500 is greater than $0, so it passes.
- 2Income limit test: $4,500 is well below $150,000, so no phase out applies.
- 3Maximum: min($7,000, $7,000, $4,500) = $4,500.
Compare a 52 year old single filer with a MAGI of $158,000. Their phase out limit is $8,000 × (1 minus $8,000 ÷ $15,000) = $3,733.33, which rounds up to $3,740.
FAQs
No, there is no minimum or maximum age as long as you have earned income, so minors can use a custodial Roth IRA.
Yes, if you file jointly, a spouse with enough earned income can fund a spousal Roth IRA for you.
Yes, head of household uses the same MAGI range as single filers, and the calculator applies it that way.
If you didn’t live with your spouse at any time during the year, you use the single filer range instead of $0 to $10,000.
No, workplace plan coverage only limits the Traditional IRA deduction, not your ability to contribute to a Roth.
You can’t contribute more than your taxable compensation for the year, so a smaller paycheck means a smaller cap.
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