To
contribute to a an IRA, one must have earned
income, such as wages, salaries, commissions, tips, bonuses, or net income from
self-employment. Taxable alimony
and separate maintenance payments received by an individual are treated as
compensation for IRA purposes.
Earned income does not include
earnings and profits from property, such as rental income,
interest and dividend income, or any amount received as pension or annuity
income, or as deferred compensation.
See
https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc451.html
