Contribution Limits & Rules for IRA and CESA

Contribution Limits

• 2017 and 2018: Lesser of $5,500 or 100% of earned income across all your IRA accounts
• No contributions are allowed beginning the year you reach age 70½

Catch-up Contributions

• If you’re age 50 or older, you can increase your traditional IRA contribution to $6,500 for 2017 and 2018

Contribution Deadline

• Typically, contributions must be made by the tax filing deadline, April 17, 2018 for the 2017 tax year

Tax-Deductible Contributions

Your traditional IRA contributions may be tax-deductible, but there are several factors that may limit and disqualify you from the deduction, depending on whether you or your spouse are covered by a retirement plan at work and/or your income exceeds certain levels. You’re considered covered by an employer retirement plan if you or your spouse have:

• A contribution plan (profit-sharing, 401(k), stock bonus, or money purchase pension)
• An IRA-styled plan like a SEP, SARSEP, or SIMPLE IRA
• A benefit plan (pension that pays a retirement benefit)

Income levels are determined by your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), which is your annual adjusted gross income with certain deductions (e.g., student loan and IRA deductions) added back in.

See IRS Publication 590-A Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements for more information.

Contribution Limits

• 2017 and 2018: Lesser of $5,500 or 100% of earned income across all your IRA accounts. Contribution limits are based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). See IRS Publication 590-A Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements for more information.

Catch-up Contributions

• If you’re age 50 or older, you may be able to increase your Roth IRA contribution to $6,500 for 2017 and 2018, based on MAGI limits

Contribution Deadline

• Typically, contributions must be made by the tax filing deadline, April 17, 2018 for the 2017 tax year

Tax-Deductible Contributions

• Contributions for Roth IRA don’t qualify for tax deductions

Contribution Limits

• Limit of $2,000 per year, per student total from all contributors (across any/all educational savings accounts held) 
• Contributions can be made by the student, parents, or any other individual or organization
• An individual's contributions for a student may have certain limitations based on the contributor's Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)
• You do not need earned income in order to make a contribution
• See IRS Publication 970 Tax Benefits for Education

Contribution Deadline

• Typically, contributions must be made by the tax filing deadline, April 17, 2018 for the 2017 tax year.

Deductions

• ESA contributions aren’t deductible.