Can my wife contribute to a Roth IRA if she did not have income,but I did and we are married filing jointly?

[nanapapa55]

Can my wife contribute to a Roth IRA if she had no income, but I did and we are married filing jointly?

[DanielV01 · Accepted solution]

It depends.  If you're income was less than 189,000 for the year, then yes.  Otherwise, there is a phase-out to make a contribution to a Roth IRA until none is allowed (above 199,000).  See the follwing IRS website with additional information:  

Roth IRA contribution limits

[Carl]

@nanapapa55  make sure you 'Read" the information. Your wife can not contribute to any kind of retirement plan because your wife does not have any taxable income of her own. But "you" can contribute to a "spousal IRA" (or ROTH) in her name. But it's important that you do things right, so that "YOU" don't get penalized for over-contributing to a retirement plan.

[dmertz]

Actually, it's your wife's contribution, but based on your compensation.  The contribution is always attributable to the IRA owner.