<prompt> Human: Does the 5,500 limit in 2016 refer to the actual calendar year, or some other fiscal tax year?  <response>: The short answer is that you can contribute 5,500 towards any given tax year. You actually have 15.5 months to contribute for any given year since you can contribute money up to the tax filing deadline of any given year, which is usually around April 15th.Example: Its March 31st 2016 and I havent contributed anything to my IRA in 2015. I can contribute up to 5,500 for 2015. I can also contribute 5,500 to 2016.Example: Its March 31st 2016 and I contributed 4,000 to my Roth in December 2015. I can contribute 1,500 towards my 2015 IRA and 5,500 towards 2016.Example: It is May 1st 2016. I can only contribute to 2016.Also, just a reminder that the 5,500 limit is a combination of your Roth and Traditional IRA contributions, so if you contributed 3,000 to your Traditional IRA then you can only contribute 2,500 to your Roth 