What happens if you exceed Roth IRA income limits?
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Published 11:03 a.m. UTC Nov. 6, 2023
Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy.
siraanamwong, iStock/Getty Images Plus
Key points
- Consider a Roth IRA if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement.
- If your income exceeds a certain threshold, you may be penalized for contributing.
- High earners can circumvent income limits with backdoor contributions.
Roth IRAs are designed to help people with low to moderate income save for retirement. While contributions aren’t tax-deductible, earnings grow tax-free, and withdrawals are tax-free as long as you follow certain rules.
In particular, it can be a good idea to contribute to a Roth IRA over a traditional IRA if you expect to have more income in retirement than you do now. Paying taxes on the money you contribute today can save you from higher tax rates on distributions later.
But the federal tax code prohibits you from contributing to a Roth IRA — at least directly — if your income exceeds a certain threshold. Understanding the income limits and ways to circumvent them may help you avoid costly penalties.
Can I contribute to a Roth IRA if my income is too high?
In general, you can contribute up to $7,000 to an IRA in 2024, or up to $8,000 if you’re 50 or older. But your maximum allowable contribution may be reduced or set to zero depending on your filing status and modified adjusted gross income.
“Income limits are set by the government to strike a balance between offering these benefits and minimizing potential revenue loss to the government,” said John Cunnison, a chartered financial analyst and chief investment officer at Baker Boyer Bank. “This ensures that the incentives are directed specifically towards the demographic they were designed to assist.”
Learn more about the Roth IRA income limits in the table below.
Roth IRA income limits for 2024
Contributing more than you’re allowed may trigger penalties. But, as we explain below, it is possible to contribute to a Roth IRA with a high income.
Our partners
Datalign Advisory
Connect
Match with a financial advisor from a network of vetted fiduciaries.
Get started
Complete the questionnaire and match with an advisor for a free, no-obligation call.
Wealthramp
Find your match
Connect with fee-only advisors who fit your priorities
Build your wealth
Review your vetted advisor matches and set up a free consultation
J.P. Morgan Personal Advisors
Create a personalized financial plan
Get matched to expert-built portfolios, and receive ongoing advice and annual check-ins to ensure your plan is on track.
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
What happens if you exceed Roth IRA income limits?
As your income changes, it can be difficult to predict whether you’ll exceed the Roth IRA income limits.
“It isn’t the end of the world if you do happen to make a contribution and are over the income limit,” said Kyle Berg, a certified financial planner and partner at Affiance Financial. “It happens more often than you might think.”
Excess contributions are subject to a 6% excise tax for each year they remain in your account.
It’s possible to avoid that penalty by withdrawing the excess contributions or recharacterizing them as traditional IRA contributions by the due date of your tax return, including extensions.
There are no early withdrawal penalties for removing excess contributions as long as you do so before your tax deadline.
“Withdrawal and recharacterization require coordination with your IRA custodian, and it is advisable to consult a tax professional to ensure proper handling,” Cunnison said.
Strategies for high earners
If your income exceeds the limits, you can’t make Roth IRA contributions directly. But there are several ways to contribute to a Roth IRA indirectly.
Here are some options to consider.
Backdoor Roth IRA
While traditional IRAs do not have income limits for contributions, high earners may not be eligible for the upfront tax break. They can, however, make nondeductible contributions. These nondeductible contributions form the linchpin of the backdoor Roth IRA strategy.
To take advantage of a backdoor Roth IRA:
- Open a traditional IRA.
- Make a nondeductible contribution.
- Roll the funds into your Roth IRA. You may need to contact your brokerage firm to do so.
As long as the nondeductible contribution did not generate earnings prior to the rollover, it typically will not trigger taxes.
Tip: Remember that Roth IRA conversions cannot be reversed.
“Someone should consider a backdoor Roth contribution if they’re able to max out all other available savings options, they still have more money to save and they don’t currently have a traditional IRA,” Berg said.
Mega backdoor Roth IRA
If you have an employer-sponsored 401(k), a mega backdoor Roth IRA may make sense for you.
First, verify that your plan administrator allows both after-tax contributions and withdrawals while you’re employed. If it does, follow these steps:
- Max out your pretax contributions. The limit is $23,000 in 2024, or $30,500 for savers 50 or older.
- Make after-tax contributions up to the overall limit, which is $69,000 in 2024, or $76,500 if you’re 50 or older. Note that employer matching contributions reduce how much after-tax money you can contribute.
- Roll the after-tax funds into your Roth IRA.
Any earnings your 401(k) contributions generate prior to the rollover will be subject to taxes.
Roth conversion
If you already have money in a traditional IRA, you can convert some or all of it to a Roth IRA. Any contributions made on a pretax basis will be subject to taxes upon conversion, as will any earnings you convert.
Tip: Spreading out conversions over multiple years can help you manage the tax bill.
Roth 401(k)
Unlike Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s don’t have income limits. If your employer offers one, you can contribute up to the annual limit, which is $23,000 in 2024, or $30,500 if you’re 50 or older.
You can roll Roth 401(k) contributions and earnings into a Roth IRA tax-free.
Bottom line
Roth IRAs can provide significant tax advantages, even to high earners. But before you contribute to a Roth IRA, make sure you understand the income limits.
If your income exceeds the threshold set by the IRS, avoid contributing to a Roth IRA directly. And if you’ve already made excess contributions, withdraw them before your tax deadline to avoid being penalized.
Review the above strategies for making Roth IRA contributions to determine the best option for you. Before you proceed, consider consulting a tax professional for guidance on your specific situation.
The IRS sets income limits for Roth IRA contributions each year based on your MAGI and filing status.
Your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA directly is eliminated when your MAGI reaches:
- $240,000 if you’re married filing jointly or a qualifying widow(er).
- $161,000 if you’re single, head of household, or married filing separately and you didn’t live with your spouse during the year.
- $10,000 if you’re married filing separately and you lived with your spouse during the year.
Nothing happens to your past Roth IRA contributions and earnings if your income increases beyond the IRS limits later. The money remains invested and is yours to keep.
Excess contributions are subject to a 6% excise tax for each year they remain in your Roth IRA. To avoid this penalty, withdraw the excess funds before your tax deadline.
If you contribute to a Roth IRA and your income later increases, pushing you over the limit, you may no longer be eligible to contribute. In that case, you have a couple of options: You can withdraw your excess contributions and any earnings, or you can recharacterize your contributions, requesting that they be moved into a traditional IRA.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
