If you've been meaning to open a Roth IRA or bump up your contributions, the numbers for 2025 are worth a look.
The IRS raised the income thresholds that decide who can fund one of these accounts, and the change is bigger than usual.
For single filers, the phase-out range now runs from $150,000 to $165,000 of modified adjusted gross income.
That's up from $146,000 to $161,000 last year.
Married couples filing jointly get a range of $236,000 to $246,000, compared with $230,000 to $240,000 in 2024.
Inside those brackets, your allowed contribution shrinks as your income rises.
Cross the top number and you generally can't contribute directly at all.
Below the bottom number, you can put in the full amount.
You can now contribute up to $7,000 for the year, or $8,000 if you're 50 or older.
That's the same as last year, so the real news here is the income side.
The limits are based on modified adjusted gross income, not your salary on its own, so a bonus or a side gig can push you over. "Married filing separately" comes with a tiny phase-out range that catches some couples off guard.
If your income is too high to contribute directly, you can make a nondeductible traditional IRA contribution and then convert it to a Roth.
It's legal and common, though it takes an extra step at tax time.
If you hold other traditional IRA money, the conversion math gets more complicated, so it's worth talking to a tax pro.
You have until the tax filing deadline in April 2026 to make a 2025 contribution, so you don't have to decide today.
But if you're close to the edge of a phase-out range, waiting until you know your final income can save you from having to fix an overcontribution later.
Here's the part that stings for higher earners: if you're above the limit and don't want to bother with a backdoor conversion, you're stuck with a regular brokerage account or a traditional IRA without the same tax-free growth.
The gap between "can contribute" and "can't" is a few thousand dollars of income, yet the long-term difference can be substantial.
For anyone hovering near the thresholds, this is a good year to check your math before you file.
A small raise or a year-end bonus might have quietly moved you into a different bracket than you expected. **The bottom line:** these limits shift most years, and 2025's bump gives a bit more room to a lot of households.
If you're anywhere near the cutoff, run your numbers early rather than assuming you're fine.
Final Thoughts
A ten-minute check now beats an awkward correction in April.