The IRS gets a little grumpy if you contribute to a Roth IRA without what it calls earned income. That usually means that you need a paying job—working for either someone else or your own business—to make Roth IRA contributions. But what if you don’t have one—a job, that is—and you still want a Roth?
Even if you don’t have a conventional job, you may be able to contribute to a Roth IRA.
Key Takeaways
- You can contribute to a Roth IRA if you have earned income and meet the income limits.
- Even if you don’t have a conventional job, you may have income that qualifies as “earned.”
- Spouses with no income can also contribute to Roth IRAs using the other spouse’s earned income.
The Good News
Although it’s not true in all cases, if you’re paying taxes on any type of income from working, then there’s a good chance you can make Roth IRA contributions. Although earned income typically includes wages, salaries, tips, bonuses, commissions, and self-employment income, it also includes some kinds of income that you might not immediately think of as “earned.”
Here are some examples of ways that you might fund a Roth IRA without having a traditional job or steady pay.
Your eligibility to contribute to a Roth IRA also depends on how much you earn. The IRS sets income limits that restrict high earners based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and tax-filing status.
If You Exercised Stock Options
When you exercise non-qualified stock options, you’ll probably pay income taxes on the difference between the grant price and the price at which you exercised the options. You may contribute this taxable income to a Roth IRA.
If You’re Awarded a Scholarship or Fellowship
Some scholarships and fellowships are taxable—especially those that pay for room and board, teaching, or research, or that include a stipend for living expenses. What’s important is that you’re paying income taxes on these funds. IRS Publication 970: Tax Benefits for Education covers this in detail. When you pay these taxes, you can usually use that income to justify a Roth IRA contribution.
If Your Spouse Has Earned Income
If your spouse earns income but you don’t, the IRS allows you to have an IRA of your own and use family funds to make your annual contributions. Often called a spousal IRA, these accounts act just like a normal Roth IRA does. The only difference is that it's your spouse’s income, rather than your own, that determines whether you qualify for a Roth IRA based on the maximum income limits.
Families often use the spousal IRA to double the amount they can contribute to IRAs each year. For the 2024 tax year, you can contribute up to $7,000 per person. If you’re age 50 or older, the limit is $8,000 each. That means couples can collectively contribute $14,000 to $16,000 for 2024, depending on whether either or both are eligible for the catch-up contributions.
Also, to qualify for a spousal IRA, you must file your taxes as married filing jointly. If the spouse with no income later goes back to work, they can still contribute to their existing spousal IRA. After the account is set up, it’s an IRA just like any other.
You have until the filing deadline of the following year to contribute to an IRA.In 2025, most people will have until April 15 to make a contribution for the 2024 tax year.
If You Receive Nontaxable Combat Pay
You don’t necessarily need to pay taxes to contribute to a Roth IRA. For instance, if you receive nontaxable combat pay, which is reported in Box 12 of your Form W-2, then you’re eligible.
Can a Stay-at-Home Parent Have a Roth IRA?
A stay-at-home parent who has no income of their own can still have a Roth IRA. The so-called spousal IRA is just like any other Roth IRA, except that it's your spouse’s income that determines whether you qualify for a Roth IRA based on the maximum income limits.
In 2024, if your tax filing status is married filing jointly, you can still contribute the full amount ($7,000, or $8,000 if you’re age 50 or older).
What Is Considered Earned Income?
Earned income includes wages, salary, commissions, tips, bonuses, self-employment income, taxable non-tuition fellowship and stipend payments, and nontaxable combat pay. Taxable alimony and separate maintenance payments for divorce or separation decrees that were executed on or before Dec. 31, 2018, are also considered earned income by the IRS.
What Isn't Considered Earned Income?
Various types of income aren't considered earned income for the purposes of contributing to a Roth IRA. These include interest and dividends, pensions or annuities, and Social Security or unemployment benefits.
Can Retirees Contribute to a Roth IRA?
Retirees can continue to contribute qualifying earned funds, even when no longer working, to a Roth IRA indefinitely. You can't contribute an amount that exceeds your earnings, and you can only contribute up to the annual contribution limits set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). People with traditional IRAs must start takingrequired minimum distributionswhen they reach age 72, but there is no such requirement for Roth IRAs.
The Bottom Line
Even if you don’t have a conventional job, you may be able to contribute to a Roth IRA with income earned from unconventional sources—if you don't earn more than the income limits imposed by the IRS. As with any tax-related questions, individual situations can sometimes make a big difference, so it can be a good idea to check with a tax expert before making contributions.
