Can a stay-at-home parent contribute to a Roth IRA?

Yes — through the spousal IRA rule. As long as the other spouse has earned income at least equal to the total contribution, the stay-at-home parent can contribute up to $7,000 to their own Roth IRA. The couple must file taxes jointly and the working spouse’s income must cover the combined contributions.

Is a spousal IRA different from a regular IRA?

No — a spousal IRA is a regular Traditional or Roth IRA in the non-working spouse’s name. There is no special account type. The term 'spousal IRA' simply refers to the rule that allows the working spouse’s income to fund the non-working spouse’s IRA. The account is opened and maintained the same way as any other IRA.

Can both spouses contribute to Roth IRAs in retirement if neither is working?

No — both spouses need earned income (wages or self-employment) to contribute to IRAs in retirement. Social Security, pension income, and investment income do not count as earned income. If both spouses are retired with no earned income, neither can make new Roth IRA contributions.

What if the non-working spouse’s income is more than zero but less than $7,000?

The non-working spouse is limited to their own earned income if it is less than the full contribution limit. Example: if the non-working spouse earns $3,000, they can only contribute $3,000 to their IRA. However, the working spouse can still contribute up to $7,000/$8,000 to their own IRA (based on the working spouse’s own income).

If we divorce, what happens to the spousal IRA?

A spousal IRA is already in the non-working spouse’s name — it is their property, not the working spouse’s. In a divorce, it is treated as a marital asset and subject to equitable distribution laws in the state. It would typically be divided as part of the overall marital asset settlement, like any other retirement account.

Spousal Roth IRA: How Non-Working Spouses Can Build Tax-Free Retirement Savings

A non-working spouse (or a spouse with minimal income) can still contribute to a Roth IRA using the spousal IRA rule — as long as the couple files taxes jointly and the working spouse has sufficient earned income. This doubles the household’s Roth IRA contribution capacity and is one of the most underutilized retirement planning opportunities for single-income households.

How the Spousal Roth IRA Rule Works

The standard rule is that IRA contributions cannot exceed your own earned income. The spousal IRA exception: if you are married filing jointly, the working spouse’s earned income can support contributions to both spouses' IRAs, even if one spouse has zero earned income. The non-working spouse has their own IRA (in their own name) and contributes up to $7,000/$8,000 — as long as the working spouse earns at least the combined total.

Spousal Roth IRA contribution scenarios

Scenario	Working Spouse Income	Each Spouse Contribution	Household Total
Both under 50	$70,000	$7,000 each	$14,000/year
Both 50+	$80,000	$8,000 each	$16,000/year
One under 50, one 50+	$75,000	$7,000 + $8,000	$15,000/year
Working spouse income below both limits	$10,000 earned	Total contributions cannot exceed $10,000	$10,000 split between spouses

ℹ️The Account Is the Non-Working Spouse’s Own Property

A spousal Roth IRA is the non-working spouse’s own account — it is not a joint account and does not belong to the working spouse. The non-working spouse has full ownership and control, and it becomes part of their own estate. This is important for asset protection and estate planning purposes.

Income Limits Apply to the Household

Spousal Roth IRA contributions are subject to the same income limits as any Roth IRA, but based on the household MAGI (since the couple files jointly). In 2025, the phase-out for married filing jointly is $236,000-$246,000. If your household MAGI exceeds $246,000, neither spouse can make direct Roth IRA contributions. Both would need to use the backdoor Roth IRA strategy.

Household MAGI under $236,000: both spouses can contribute full $7,000/$8,000
Household MAGI $236,000-$246,000: contributions phase out proportionally for both spouses
Household MAGI above $246,000: both use backdoor Roth IRA
One-income household with working spouse earning $70,000: both spouses can contribute $7,000 each ($14,000 total household)

Calculate Both Spouses' Roth IRA Growth

Enter your combined annual contributions ($14,000 maximum) and see your combined tax-free retirement balance.

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Spousal Roth IRA: How Non-Working Spouses Can Build Tax-Free Retirement Savings

How the Spousal Roth IRA Rule Works

Income Limits Apply to the Household

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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