Are Roth IRA Contributions Tax Deductible?

Roth IRAs can be a savvy retirement savings strategy, but they have one significant drawback: contributions aren’t tax-deductible. Though when taking a closer look at the details, there are also nuances to consider.

Although Roth IRA contributions themselves aren’t tax-deductible, you can claim a Roth IRA tax credit, or claim a loss on a Roth IRA. To do so, you’ll need to meet certain eligibility requirements.

If you’re wondering whether your Roth IRA contributions can be tax-deductible, here’s some information and scenarios to consider.

Non-Deductible Roth IRA Contributions

Unlike 401(k) or traditional IRA contributions, Roth IRA contributions are not tax-deductible. According to the Roth IRA funding rules established by the IRS, all of your contributions must be made with after-tax dollars.

For example, let’s say you earn $40,000, and you’re in the 25% tax bracket. If you want to make a $5,500 tax-deductible 401(k) contribution, you’ll put $5,500 in your 401(k) first and then you pay your taxes, which leaves you with $25,875 (75% of $34,500).

However, if you make a $5,500 non-deductible Roth IRA contribution, you’ll pay your taxes first, which leaves you with $30,000 (75% of $40,000). By making that $5,500 Roth IRA contribution with after-tax dollars, you’ll be left with $24,500 in disposable income. 

Although stashing that money away in your Roth IRA is certainly a smart move, it’ll leave you with less money to spend throughout the year.

The complexity of the situation doesn’t end there. Just because your Roth IRA contributions aren’t tax-deductible doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of certain provisions that provide a benefit similar to a deduction.

Yes, you read that right. You can potentially get a tax benefit by using a Roth IRA. How is this possible? Keep reading to learn more.

The Saver’s Tax Credit

Although your Roth IRA contributions are not tax-deductible, you can claim the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit (also known as the “Saver’s Tax Credit”). 

Using IRS Form 8880, you can receive a credit of up to 50% on your first $2,000 in Roth IRA contributions, if you’re single and your income falls within the income limits. The credit applies to a contribution amount of $4,000 if you’re married, filing jointly. 

Here’s how the numbers and income limits worked out for the 2021 tax season:

You can receive a 50% tax credit on your qualified contribution amount if you’re:

• Single with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $19,500 or less

• Married filing jointly with an AGI of $39,000 or less

• Head of Household with an AGI of $29,250 or less

You can receive a 20% tax credit on your qualified contribution amount if you’re:

• Single and earn between $19,501 and $21,250

• Married filing jointly and earn between $39,001 and $42,500

• Head of Household and earn between $29,250 and $31,875

You can receive a 10% tax credit on your qualified contribution amount if you’re:

• Single and earn between $21,251 and $32,500

• Married filing jointly and earn between $42,501 and $65,000

• Head of Household and earn between $31,876 and $48,750

Claiming Roth IRA Losses

Although some taxpayers were once able to develop a workaround to claim Roth IRA losses, this provision was removed as part of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017. Whether this will become an option again in the future remains unclear.

In the past, while Roth IRA contributions were not tax-deductible, you could claim losses under certain circumstances. These losses were in relation to your original Roth IRA contribution, not simply a declining balance.

For instance, if you contributed $25,000 to your Roth IRA over the years, but your account is now only worth $20,000, then you experienced a $5,000 loss of your original contribution. In this situation, you could claim that loss on your tax return, but only if all of the following applied:

• You closed all of your Roth IRA accounts,
• You claimed your loss on an itemized tax return,
• The loss exceeded 2% of your Adjustable Gross Income (AGI), and
• You were not subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).

Assuming your situation met each of the above factors, you were eligible to claim a loss on your tax return. However, there’s another caveat — you could only claim the amount that was above 2% of your AGI as a tax deduction.

Since the above provision is no longer in effect, the Saver’s Tax Credit is likely the next best option.

Benefits of Investing in a Roth IRA

Now that we’ve covered the most viable option to score a tax break through a Roth IRA, let’s highlight the many instances in which opening this type of account makes sense.

A Roth IRA offers one more way to save for retirement.

If you’re building a hefty nest egg for retirement, a Roth IRA offers another option to do so. The best part is, you can contribute to a Roth IRA (or traditional IRA) even after you max out your company-sponsored retirement or 401(k) plan. 

For the 2021 tax season, the contribution limits for both your Roth IRA and traditional IRAs combined is $6,000, although individuals age 50 and over can contribute up to $7,000 as a “catch-up contribution.”

Roth IRAs allow you to diversify your exposure to taxes.

When you contribute to a 401(k) or other tax-advantaged accounts, you save money on taxes now with the promise to pay them when you begin taking withdrawals. A Roth IRA, on the other hand, requires the opposite approach. By investing in a Roth IRA with after-tax dollars, you can look forward to tax-free withdrawals when you reach retirement age. 

If you believe you might be in a higher tax bracket upon retirement, investing in a Roth IRA is also one way to shield yourself from higher taxes in the future.

You can withdraw your contributions at any time with no penalty.

Unlike other retirement plans, the Roth IRA offers some pretty generous rules when it comes to removing your funds from an account. You can withdraw any contributions from your Roth IRA at any time without penalty. 

You’ll notice I said contributions, and not earnings, however. Let’s say you contributed $6,000 to your Roth IRA the last few years for a total contribution of $12,000, but managed to accumulate $3,000 in earnings during that time. Per Roth IRA rules, you can only take out your initial contribution without penalty, which includes the original $12,000 you put in.

You won’t be forced to take distributions once you reach a certain age.

One reason so many people love the Roth IRA is that it offers flexibility in retirement. Not only can you take out your contributions early if you need to, but you aren’t forced to take distributions once you reach a certain age, either. 

A 401(k) and traditional IRA, by comparison, force you to take distributions at age 70 1/2 or pay a penalty. If you want as many financial options as possible when it comes to riding out your retirement, this is a huge benefit.

You might not be able to contribute in the future if your income grows.

If you think you might earn more money in the future, contributing to a Roth IRA now is a very smart move. Even though a high income might preclude you from using this investment vehicle in the future, any funds you stash away in a Roth IRA will continue growing until you need them.

How to Qualify For a Roth IRA

You might be wondering what it takes to qualify for a Roth IRA, to begin with. Here are the main factors to consider when figuring out whether or not you can contribute to a Roth IRA this year:

• You must have taxable, earned income. During the year you want to contribute to a Roth IRA, you must’ve earned income from a full-time or part-time job, self-employment, or a small business. 
• Your contribution limits are based on your age. If you’re under the age of 50, you can contribute a maximum of $6,000 combined to a Roth IRA or traditional IRA account. If you’re over age 50, the maximum you can contribute is $7,000.
• You must meet income guidelines. Depending on your income, you might be able to contribute up to the maximum limit, be allowed to contribute a reduced amount, or might not be eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA.  Also keep in mind that, if your income fluctuates, you might be able to contribute to a Roth IRA in certain years and not others.

For 2021, married couples filing a joint return must earn less than $196,000 to make the maximum contribution. Between $196,000 and $205,999, the maximum contribution begins phasing out. 

For single filers, heads of household, or married filing separately without living with their spouse that year, the phase-out range starts at $124,000 and ends at $138,999. Anyone who falls into that category and earns less than $124,000 can contribute the maximum contribution for the year.

Where to Open a Roth IRA

• $0 per trade
• $0 mutual fund
• $0 set up
• 0.25% – 0.40% account balance annually

Get Started

Opening a Roth IRA is always a good idea, but if you fall into one of the above income categories then going without a Roth IRA could cost you a huge break on your taxes. The beautiful thing about tax credits is they’re a direct reduction in the amount of tax you owe, whereas tax deductions only lower your taxable income.

If you can benefit from funding a Roth IRA and getting a Saver’s Tax Credit, there are plenty of ways to get a Roth IRA account activated. 

Before opening an account, ask about any account maintenance fees. Also, you’ll want to get an idea of how each provider handles customer service. Here’s where you can find a Roth IRA.

Credit Union

Credit unions are not-for-profit institutions that offer their members financial services. Since their mandate is to serve their members, credit unions are often known for having lower fees than traditional banks or brokers. If you’re not already a member of a credit union, you can search the federal credit union database to get started. 

Online Brokerage

For investors who want to take a do-it-yourself approach to their finances, using an online brokerage or robo-advisor can take the pressure out of the process. Make sure to find one with a low management fee. It’s wise to also pay attention to other services and features that would benefit you, like educational tools, and automatic rebalancing which adjust your investments at set intervals.

Traditional Bank

If you prefer to stick with a traditional method, you can open your Roth IRA at a bank. When you open a Roth IRA at a bank, your money typically goes into a highly secure, low-risk investment vehicle, like a Certificate of Deposit or money market account. Keep in mind, these types of investments typically have lower returns.