How much can you put in a self-directed IRA per year?

The annual contribution limits for a self-directed IRA are the same as those for any traditional or Roth IRA because the IRS does not distinguish between account types when it comes to contribution caps. For 2026, the contribution limit is $7,000 per year for individuals under age 50. If you are 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution, bringing the total to $8,000 per year.

These limits apply across all IRAs you hold. If you contribute $4,000 to a traditional IRA, you can only put $3,000 into a self-directed Roth IRA the same year. The combined total across all accounts cannot exceed the annual cap.

For self-directed SEP IRA accounts, the limits are much higher. A self-directed SEP IRA allows contributions of up to 25 percent of your net self-employment income or a maximum of $69,000 for 2026, whichever is less. This makes the self-directed SEP IRA real estate strategy especially appealing for self-employed investors and business owners who want to accumulate retirement capital faster.

Self-directed IRA income limits also apply to Roth accounts. If your modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain thresholds, your ability to contribute directly to a self-directed Roth IRA is reduced or eliminated. For 2026, the phase-out begins at $146,000 for single filers and $230,000 for married filing jointly. If you earn above these limits, a backdoor Roth conversion strategy may allow you to still fund a self-directed Roth IRA.

Many investors who want to grow their self-directed IRA for real estate investing faster choose to also rollover funds from an existing 401k or traditional IRA. A rollover is not subject to the annual contribution limit, so it can immediately give you a larger pool of capital to invest. Converting 401k to self-directed IRA through a direct rollover is a common first step for investors at BullioniteAssetGroup who are just entering the self-directed space.