Spousal IRA Calculator

Calculate spousal IRA contribution limits and projected growth for non-working spouses.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: IRS — IR-2025-111, 2026 retirement plan and IRA limits

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IRA Type
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Max Annual Contribution

$7,500.00

Projected Balance at 65

$872,231.64

Spousal IRA Details

Contribution Limit (2026)$7,500.00
Actual Contribution$7,500.00
Years to Age 6530 years
Filing RequirementMarried Filing Jointly
Projected at 65$872,231.64

Use the Spousal IRA Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

When one spouse earns income and the other does not, the household can still fund two retirement accounts thanks to the Spousal IRA rules. This tool shows how much the non-working spouse may contribute and projects how those tax-advantaged dollars could grow over time, helping both partners build toward a secure retirement. For 2026, the maximum IRA contribution is $7,500 for those under 50 and $8,600 for those 50 and over.

The maximum contribution comes from the non-working spouse's age: $7,500, or $8,600 at 50 and over. For a Roth IRA the calculator also applies the 2026 phase-out for joint filers, using the working spouse's income as the couple's MAGI: the contribution shrinks between $242,000 and $252,000 and is zero above that. From there, the tool projects the account to the non-working spouse's 65th birthday. Each year it adds that year's contribution to the balance, starting from any balance you already have, and grows the total by your chosen return: balance = (previous balance + contribution) × (1 + r), repeated once for every year until 65.

Spousal IRA contributions are capped by the working spouse's earned income, which must at least equal the combined amount put into both accounts. Overshooting the contribution limits can trigger penalties, so it pays to verify your numbers before filing. And because the projected growth is only an estimate, treat the result as a planning figure rather than a promise, since real returns depend on market performance and the investments you choose.

Example: Sarah & Tom's Spousal IRA

  1. 1 Tom works and earns $80,000 a year. Sarah, 45, has no earnings and no IRA yet, so her current balance is $0. They file jointly and choose a Roth IRA with a 7% expected return.
  2. 2 Limit: Sarah is under 50, so her 2026 limit is $7,500. The couple's income is far below the $242,000 start of the Roth phase-out, and Tom's $80,000 covers both spouses' contributions ($15,000), so she can put in the full $7,500.
  3. 3 Projection: Sarah has 20 years until 65. Each year the balance becomes (balance + $7,500) × 1.07, so the first year ends at $8,025, and after 20 years the calculator shows about $328,989 at 65: $150,000 contributed and $178,989 of growth.
  4. 4 The calculator keeps her $7,500 limit for all 20 years. It does not add the $1,100 catch-up once she turns 50 or future inflation increases to the limit, so a couple who keeps contributing the maximum would end up with more.

Source: IRS — IR-2025-111, 2026 retirement plan and IRA limits · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a non-working spouse contribute to an IRA?
Yes. A spousal IRA allows a non-working or low-earning spouse to contribute up to $7,500 ($8,600 if 50+) in 2026, as long as the working spouse has enough earned income to cover both contributions and they file jointly.
Can a spousal IRA be a Roth IRA?
Yes. The spousal IRA can be either Traditional or Roth, subject to the same income limits and rules as any IRA. Because a spousal IRA requires a joint return, the non-working spouse shares the couple's tax bracket, so the choice follows the household's rate now versus the rate expected in retirement.
Does a spousal IRA count as a joint account?
No. The spousal IRA is an individual account owned solely by the non-working spouse. Each spouse must have their own separate IRA. The accounts cannot be jointly titled, and each person controls their own account.

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