Can I contribute to both a 401(k) and an IRA?
Yes. Participating in an employer plan does not prevent you from contributing to an IRA. The two limits are entirely separate — a 401(k) deferral does not reduce your IRA limit, and an IRA contribution does not reduce what you may defer at work.
What workplace coverage can change is the tax treatment of the IRA contribution, not the ability to make it. Being covered by a plan brings income ranges into play that may limit a traditional IRA deduction, and separate income ranges may limit a Roth IRA contribution.
So the useful distinction is between whether you may contribute and how the contribution is treated. They are different questions with different answers.
Reviewed by Bay Area Wealth Advisors. Last reviewed 2026-09-16. Educational information only — not individualized financial, tax or legal advice.