When can I make my IRA contributions?

You can contribute to your IRA anytime during the current year for that particular tax year. In fact, you can make contributions up until the due date for filing your tax return for that tax year, not including extensions. For most people, that date is April 15. For example, you can make your 2026 tax year contribution any time between January 1, 2026, and April 15, 2027.

You can make your annual contribution to your IRA all at once or divide it into smaller amounts on your own schedule, subject to your IRA administrator’s minimum requirements. You do not have to contribute to your IRA every year, nor do you need to make the maximum allowable annual contribution. If you do contribute less than the maximum in any given year, you cannot make up the shortfall in a later year.