What is the maximum one can contribute to multiple Roth IRAs?

1. The single-number rule that controls every account

The IRS sets one annual limit that applies to the sum of your Roth and traditional IRA contributions. That means you can open and fund multiple Roth IRAs, but the aggregate of those contributions cannot exceed the annual IRA limit ($7,000 in 2025; $7,500 in 2026) or your earned income for the year, whichever is less ^{[1] [4]}. Multiple providers and multiple Roth account statements change nothing: the cap is total contributions, not per account ^{[5] [1]}.

2. How age and “catch-up” change the math

If you are age 50 or older, you are allowed an extra catch-up contribution. For 2025 that raises the total IRA limit to $8,000; for 2026 the IRS increased the base limit and the catch-up amount so the new total is higher (IRS raised limits for 2026 to $7,500 and increased catch-up to $1,100) ^{[2] [3]}. The catch-up raises the aggregate cap across all IRAs — not an extra per-account allowance ^[1].

3. Income rules can restrict or phase out Roth contributions

Even though the dollar limit sets the maximum you may put into IRAs, Roth eligibility depends on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). For the 2025 tax year a single filer with MAGI below $150,000 (and joint filers below $236,000) can make a full Roth contribution; between the phase-in and phase-out ranges your allowable Roth contribution is reduced; above the top of the range you cannot contribute directly to a Roth ^{[6] [7]}. The IRS continued to adjust those bands for 2026, raising the phase‑out ranges ^[3].

4. “Multiple Roths” are largely a custody choice, not a contribution shortcut

Brokerages and custodians let you hold Roth accounts at different firms. People sometimes split assets for investment choice or estate planning, but using multiple Roth IRAs does not permit additional annual contributions beyond the IRS cap. The practical reason to have more than one Roth is investment diversification, fees, or convenience — not extra contribution room ^{[5] [7]}.

5. When earned income and filing status further limit you

Your contribution cannot exceed your earned income for the year. If your taxable compensation is less than the statutory IRA limit, your contribution maximum is limited to that lower amount ^[5]. Married couples filing jointly may each contribute up to the individual limit if each has sufficient earned income, and a nonworking spouse can use a spousal IRA up to the combined earned-income constraint described by the IRS ^{[2] [8]}.

6. Workarounds and the reporting angle — what sources say and what they don’t

If your MAGI exceeds the Roth phase-out, advisers and outlets in these sources note “backdoor Roth” conversions as an available path — converting after‑tax traditional IRA dollars into a Roth — but that’s a distinct transaction with tax and reporting implications and not a direct way to increase the annual Roth contribution cap ^{[6] [9]}. The sources discuss conversions and rollovers as alternatives but do not describe them as increasing the legal annual contribution cap ^[6].

7. Practical takeaway and where to check for updates

For most savers the rule is simple: add up every dollar you put into any Roth and traditional IRAs in the tax year; that sum cannot exceed the IRS limit for the year ($7,000 in 2025; $7,500 in 2026) or your earned income, and income phase-outs determine whether you can contribute directly to a Roth at all ^{[1] [3] [5]}. For precise filing and tax consequences check the IRS retirement topics page and your brokerage’s guidance before making contributions ^{[1] [2]}.

Limitations: available sources do not mention state-level variations or penalties for excess contributions in detail; consult the IRS and a tax professional for personal tax treatment and removal or recharacterization steps.