Retirement tax questions


@dmertz wrote:

If he receives a W-2, the amount he can contribute to a Roth IRA is the amount shown in box 1 of the W-2.

 

If he is an independent contractor and not an employee who receives a W-2, he is self-employed and must file Schedules C and SE.  On Schedule C he'll deduct his business expenses.  If Schedule C shows $600 profit, his maximum Roth IRA contribution will be $600 minus one-half of his self-employment tax.  That would be a maximum contribution of $557.


Because the Roth contribution limit for a self-employed person isn't known finally until completing the person's tax return, you may want to wait until after you prepare the return to make the contribution.  He can contribute to a Roth for the 2022 tax year until April 15, 2023.  He just has to make sure to let the plan custodian know that it is a contribution for the prior year.