Can Someone Else Contribute to My Roth IRA?
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Investing for the future takes time, discipline, and (of course) money. If you’re wondering whether you can get help from someone else to contribute to your retirement nest egg, the short answer is yes. This means your spouse, parent, or grandparent can give you the money to deposit into your Roth individual retirement account (IRA). Keep reading to learn more about how you can use a gift to add to your Roth IRA.
Key Takeaways
- Roth IRAs are funded using after-tax dollars and allow your money and earnings to grow on a tax-advantaged basis.
- The amount you can contribute to a Roth IRA depends on your tax filing status and your modified adjusted gross income.
- Someone else can give you a check or transfer the money to you so you can contribute to your Roth IRA.
Roth IRA Contribution Requirements
A Roth individual retirement account is a tax-advantaged account that you can use to save for your retirement. The contributions are made using after-tax dollars, which means you do not get a tax deduction. But this type of account gives you the benefit of tax-free growth and withdrawals. Your earnings also grow tax-free as long as the account is open for at least five years and you are at least 59½.
You must have earned income to be able to contribute to a Roth IRA. This includes salary, wages, tips, and any self-employment income you earn during the year. The amount you can contribute depends on your tax filing status and your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). These are highlighted in the tables below.
| 2024 Roth IRA Phase-out Ranges and Contribution Amounts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Filing Status | MAGI Range | Allowable Contribution |
| Single | Less than $146,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $146,000 to $161,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $161,000 or more | $0 | |
| Married Filing Separately (if you didn’t live with your spouse at any point during the year) | Less than $146,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $146,000 to $161,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $161,000 or more | $0 | |
| Married filing separately (if you lived with your spouse during the year) | Less than $10,000 | Partial contribution |
| $10,000 or more | $0 | |
| Married Filing Jointly | Less than $230,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $230,000 to $240,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $240,000 or more | $0 | |
| Surviving Spouse | Less than $230,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $230,000 to $240,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $240,000 or more | $0 | |
| Head of Household | Less than $146,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $146,000 to $161,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $161,000 | $0 |
| 2025 Roth IRA Phase-out Ranges and Contribution Amounts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Filing Status | MAGI Range | Allowable Contribution |
| Single | Less than $150,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $150,000 to $165,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $165,000 or more | $0 | |
| Married Filing Separately (if you didn’t live with your spouse at any point during the year) | Less than $150,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $150,000 to $165,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $165,000 or more | $0 | |
| Married filing separately (if you lived with your spouse during the year) | Less than $10,000 | Partial contribution |
| $10,000 or more | $0 | |
| Married Filing Jointly | Less than $236,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $236,000 to $246,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $246,000 or more | $0 | |
| Surviving Spouse | Less than $236,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $236,000 to $246,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $246,000 or more | $0 | |
| Head of Household | Less than $150,000 | $7,000 or $8,000 if 50 and older |
| $150,000 to $165,000 | Partial contribution | |
| $165,000 | $0 |
Note
Individuals 50 or older can make an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000 to their Roth IRAs.
How Someone Can Contribute to Your Roth IRA
As noted above, you need earned income during the year, and your MAGI must fall within the ranges set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) according to your filing status so you can contribute to a Roth IRA. In some cases, someone else may contribute to the account for you.
For instance, if you’re married and file a joint return, the income your spouse earns allows you to contribute to your Roth IRA even if you have no income yourself. If you go this route, make sure your combined MAGI meets the threshold for contributing.
Someone, such as a parent or grandparent, can also give you the money to contribute yourself. Or, they can contribute on your behalf. The funds must generally come from a brokerage or deposit account—not another retirement account—and can be deposited with a check or electronically. Keep in mind that the contribution cannot exceed the limit and that you qualify based on the filing status and income limits outlined above.
Be sure to research and understand how your plan works, as some Roth IRA administrators may have different rules about who can contribute to your account.
Warning
Make sure you and anyone else contributing to your Roth IRA are aware of how much you’re allowed to contribute. You can incur a 6% penalty on any excess contributions to your account. The penalty is based on the over contribution every year until it is corrected.
Special Considerations: Gift Taxes
The IRS imposes a limit on how much money someone can gift you each year. The maximum amount you can receive is $19,000 in 2025, which is an increase from the 2024 limit of $18,000—anything over these amounts triggers the gift tax.
The donor can avoid incurring the gift tax by giving you any amount up to the exclusion. For instance, your father can write you a check for $17,000 in 2025 ($7,000 of which you can contribute to your Roth IRA) without incurring the gift tax. But if he gives you $20,000 in 2025, he’ll end up having to pay the gift tax.
The Bottom Line
Roth IRAs can help you save money for retirement. Since you use after-tax dollars, you don’t get an immediate tax deduction. Rather, your contributions and earnings grow tax-free, and you can make tax-free withdrawals when you retire. If you have earned income, someone else can make contributions for you. But before they do, make sure you check with your plan administrator if there are any rules about third parties making contributions on your behalf.
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