Understanding the Income Limits for Traditional and Roth IRAs

Learn about the income limits for traditional and Roth IRAs and understand the differences between them. Find out how to make contributions even if your income prevents you from contributing directly to a Roth IRA.

Understanding the Income Limits for Traditional and Roth IRAs

Traditional IRAs do not have any income limits, however, there are income limits for tax-deductible contributions. On the other hand, Roth IRAs do have income limits. If you don't have taxable compensation, but you file a joint return with a spouse who earns income, you can open an IRA in your name and make contributions through a spousal IRA. Even if you are under 18 years old, you can still contribute to a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA as long as you meet the work income requirements and don't earn above the income limits. The main difference between traditional and Roth IRAs is that the traditional IRA offers tax relief for contributions while the Roth IRA does not.

This means that when you switch from a pre-tax IRA to an after-tax IRA, you will have to pay taxes but will benefit from tax-free income in retirement. A spousal IRA is an open IRA for a spouse who has no income of their own from work, usually from providing unpaid labor to their household. You can make cumulative contributions to a Roth or traditional IRA regardless of your age. If your income prevents you from contributing directly to a Roth IRA, you can still enjoy the tax savings of a Roth IRA if you opt for a reinvested Roth IRA. However, it is important to be mindful of how much money you are investing in each type of IRA so that you don't end up investing too much.

Ruthie Cacibauda
Ruthie Cacibauda

Passionate creator. Freelance coffee geek. Unapologetic tv trailblazer. Professional internet junkie. Wannabe music lover. Hipster-friendly beer geek.

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