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2011 Roth IRA Income Limits

What are the 2011 Roth IRA income limits?

The limits change from year to year, so if you plan to make a contribution for the 2011 tax year, you need to know.

The answers of course depend on your tax filing status - whether you're single, head of household, married filing separately, married filing jointly, or other tax filing status.

For 2011, the maximum income limits for making a Roth IRA contribution are:

  • $179,000 for those who are married and filing jointly on their tax return.
  • $10,000 for those who are married, lived with their spouse at any time during the course of the tax year, and are filing separate tax returns.
  • $122,000 for those who file as either:
  1. Single
  2. Head of household
  3. Married filing separately and did not live with their spouse during any part of the tax year.

From 2010 to 2011, the allowable income limits for making a Roth IRA contribution changed for each tax filing status, so it's important to know the updated IRS rules.

2011 Roth IRA Income Limits

Below is an expanded breakdown for each tax status:

Married Filing Jointly or a Qualifying Widow(er)

If this describes your IRS tax filing status, how much can you contribute to your Roth IRA?

Under IRS rules, you can contribute a maximum of...

  • $5,000 if you're under 50 and your earned income is $169,000 or less
  • $6,000 if you're over 50 and your earned income is $169,000 or less
  • $0 regardless of age if your earned income is $179,000 or more

If your earned income falls somewhere between $169,001 and $179,000, then the amount you're allowed to contribute to your Roth IRA varies between zero and...

  • $5,000 if you're under 50
  • $6,000 if you're over 50

If this describes you, then it's best to consult with a financial professional in order to calculate the exact dollar amount of your contribution given the Roth IRA income limits.

Single, Head of Household, or Married Filing Separately

If this describes your IRS tax filing status, how much can you contribute to your Roth IRA?

Under IRS rules, you can contribute a maximum of...

  • $5,000 if you're under 50 and your earned income is $107,000 or less
  • $6,000 if you're over 50 and your earned income is $107,000 or less
  • $0 regardless of age if your earned income is $122,000 or more

If your earned income falls somewhere between $107,001 and $122,000, then the amount you're allowed to contribute to your Roth IRA varies between zero and...

  • $5,000 if you're under 50
  • $6,000 if you're over 50

If this describes you, then it's best to consult with a financial professional in order to calculate the exact dollar amount of your contribution given the Roth IRA income limits.

Married Filing Separately

If your filing status is married filing separately, and...

You lived with your spouse at any time during the year, how much can you contribute to your Roth IRA?

Under IRS rules, you can contribute a maximum of...

  • $5,000 if you're under 50 and your earned income is $0
  • $6,000 if you're over 50 and your earned income is $0
  • $0 regardless of age if your earned income is $10,000 or more

If your earned income falls somewhere between $1 and $10,000, then the amount you're allowed to contribute to your Roth IRA varies between zero and...

  • $5,000 if you're under 50
  • $6,000 if you're over 50

If this describes you, then it's best to consult with a financial professional in order to calculate the exact dollar amount of your contribution given the Roth IRA income limits.

2011 Income Limits on Conversions

While the 2011 Roth IRA income limits bar married couples earning more than $179,000 and single persons earning more than $122,000 from making a direct Roth IRA contribution, a 2010 rule change offers hope.

If you currently earn too much to directly contribute to a Roth IRA, you can still fund one in full by taking advantage of this rule change.

In January 2010, Congress eliminated the $100,000 adjustable gross income (AGI) limit on Roth conversions - an act which effectively eradicated the IRS income limits for 2010 and the years which follow.

Why?

Because anyone, regardless of income, can make non-deductible contributions to a Traditional IRA. And since there's no longer an income limit on Roth conversions, they can immediately convert those non-deductible contributions to a Roth IRA.

Need an example?

Let's say you're 37 years old and single.

Most of your peers are able to contribute the maximum $5,000 to a Roth IRA for the 2011 tax year, but you can't.

Why?

Because you earn $175,000, well in excess of the $122,000 income limit for 2011.

Nevertheless, you can still make $5,000 worth of non-deductible contributions to a Traditional IRA. And since the $100,000 income limit on Roth conversions is no longer in force, you can immediately convert your Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

Since your original contributions were non-deductible and you haven't had a chance to generate earnings yet, the conversion is completely tax free.

So presto! You just contributed $5,000 to your Roth IRA for the 2011 tax year even though you earn more than the 2011 Roth IRA income limits.

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