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Level 5
February 26, 2021
Question

deductible IRA contribution

  • February 26, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

I keep getting an advice message in TT that I am able to make a deductible IRA contribution yet cannot find anywhere where I can determine how TT is reaching that conclusion.  I have no earned income so I do not believe I should be able to make an IRA contribution.  I think there may be a bug in the software.  How do I determine TT's logic.  Thank you.

    1 reply

    Level 15
    February 26, 2021

    What are the sources of your income?

     

    Note that there is a recent tax law change that certain graduate and post-graduate fellowships count as "compensation" for IRA eligibility, even though they are still "unearned income" for all other purposes.  Are you a graduate student or post-doc?

    cjobAuthor
    Level 5
    February 26, 2021

    I have a deferred comp distribution and investment income (cap gains/interest/dividends).  Oh, and all of $400 as an election worker.   So unless something changed with the deferred comp distribution qualifications.... But then I should be over any MAGI threshhold.  Would love to see that TT found something I missed but I'm not comfortable the program is right yet.

     

    Level 15
    February 26, 2021

    If your deferred compensation is subject to social security tax (it's included in box 3 income even though it is excluded from box 1 income) that counts as compensation for the IRA.  But I'm not sure about the MAGI.

     

    @macuser_22  @dmertz any comments?