IRA Contribution Limits and Catch-Up Contributions

• Posted on April 25, 2008
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For those who annually contribute to their IRA account and wish they could contribute more, there is good news. The annual contribution limit is inflation adjusted each year and is slowly increasing. Taxpayers 50 and older are allowed larger contributions through so-called “make-up” provisions (see table below).

The contribution limit for Traditional IRA Accounts for taxpayers that do not have a qualified plan with their employer is as follows.

IRA Contribution Limits

Year	2006-2007	2008-2011	2012
Under Age 50	4,000	5,000	Inflation Adjusted
Age 50 & Over	5,000	6,000	Inflation Adjusted

However, if a taxpayer is an active participant in an employer’s pension plan or a self-employed pension plan, the deductible amount will be ratably phased out if their income for the year (AGI) is within the phase out range and not allowed at all if the AGI exceeds the phase out range (see the table below). The phase-out ranges are adjusted annually for inflation.

Phase-Out Ranges

Filing Status	2010	2011
Single & Head of Household	56,000 - 66,000	56,000 - 66,000
Married Filing Jointly	89,000 - 109,000	90,000 - 110,000
Married Filing Separately	0 - 10,000	0 - 10,000

Special rule for a nonactive participant spouse - The limits for deductible IRA contributions do not apply to the spouse of an active participant. Rather, the maximum deductible IRA contribution for an individual who is not an active participant but whose spouse is an active participant, is phased out for the non-active participant if their combined AGI is between the inflation adjusted limits for the year as illustrated in the table below.

Nonactive Spouse Phase-Out Ranges

Year	2010	2011
Phase-Out Range	167,000 - 177,000	169,000 - 179,000