Roth IRA not contributed enough?

[darrowfrazier1]

Filing a joint return, my wife contributed the $166.66 per month to her Roth IRA, so it was $2656.  She only earned $2400 so it is saying she didn't earn enough money to contribute that much.  But we are filing jointly, and we earn $32k together.  What do I do?

[PaulaM · Accepted solution]

You do not have to enter a Roth IRA contribution at all in TurboTax or on your tax return. There is no deduction for it, not is there a line entry on the tax form. Some like to track their Roth basis in the software, but it is not required. Remove the entry to clear the error and track basis outside of the software. 

You are correct that spouses are not limited to their own earnings to contribute to an IRA/Roth IRA (limited to the earnings of the working spouse). 

http://www.rothira.com/roth-ira-rules