My baby boomer clients are finally starting to grasp the concept of the tax free benefits of the Roth IRA. So much in fact in that they want to make sure that their kids start a Roth IRA and, in some cases, even their grandchildren. I even had one grandfather who wanted to set up a Roth IRA for his 5 year old grandson. While giving your kids the benefit of tax free savings sounds sweet, there are some key rules when it comes to Roth IRA’s for minors. 
Here’s what you need to know about how your kids can enjoy tax free money. Be sure to check out the rest of the Roth IRA rules.
Other items to note is that the child will only be able to contribute to a Roth as much as they earn. The 2015 limits are $5,000 but if the child only earns $2,000 for the year, that’s all they’ll be able to put in.
The reader was roughly 60 years of age and wanted to open a Roth IRA for his five-year-old grandson. He wanted to make a $1,000 contribution into a Roth IRA thinking that the grandson would not be able to touch the money until he was age 60, and then he could benefit from the tax-free growth that the Roth IRA provides. Just to give you an idea, if $1,000 were to earn on average 8% in a stock-like investment over the course of 55 years, it would grow to be around $101,000. The grandson would then have roughly $100,000 of tax-free money waiting for him at retirement. (At least that’s what the grandfather was hoping for). While I appreciate the tactic that the grandfather was trying to implement, we do incur a bit of a problem. Since the grandson does not have any earned income, he would not be able to start a Roth IRA. Bummer.
Roth IRA For Minors
Amazingly, there is no minimum age requirement to open a Roth IRA. The only requirement is that the child have “earned income”. What defines earned income? According to the IRS.gov website: Earned income includes all the taxable income and wages you get from working. There are two ways to get earned income: You work for someone who pays you or you work in a business you own. Does a paper route count? Sure can. What about household chores? That’s a gray area, but most tax experts lean towards no. (Be sure to always ask your tax professional). What about child actors? Absolutely. I think that means that all 8 kids of John and Kate plus 8 could start a Roth IRA. I just hope they have a good financial advisor 🙂Other items to note is that the child will only be able to contribute to a Roth as much as they earn. The 2015 limits are $5,000 but if the child only earns $2,000 for the year, that’s all they’ll be able to put in.
Whose the Owner?
Depending on where you go to open the Roth IRA, there may be different requirements. When I worked for my previous firm, I had a client whose 16-year-old working son wanted to start a Roth IRA. My firm allowed it, but the father had to sign for him. Once the child celebrates his 18th birthday, the Roth IRA is officially his. (We’ll talk more about that in a bit).Drawbacks of Roth IRA’s for Kids
Hard to believe there are any drawbacks to tax-free money, but there is one. The only drawback for opening a Roth IRA in the name of a minor is that the ownership of the account passes on to the child when he or she attains maturity. That means that at the age of 18, the child (now adult) can do with the money whatever they choose. I”ll let your imagination take over on what an 18 year would do with a windfall of money.Can You Just Open a Roth IRA for the Child?
After funding their retirement needs, many wish to pass on any remaining to their heirs. But for some, they wish that we could have some control when their heirs could get the money. I once had a reader that wanted to know how he could give his grandson the tax free benefit of the Roth IRA. In my opinion, this is one cool grandfather.The reader was roughly 60 years of age and wanted to open a Roth IRA for his five-year-old grandson. He wanted to make a $1,000 contribution into a Roth IRA thinking that the grandson would not be able to touch the money until he was age 60, and then he could benefit from the tax-free growth that the Roth IRA provides. Just to give you an idea, if $1,000 were to earn on average 8% in a stock-like investment over the course of 55 years, it would grow to be around $101,000. The grandson would then have roughly $100,000 of tax-free money waiting for him at retirement. (At least that’s what the grandfather was hoping for). While I appreciate the tactic that the grandfather was trying to implement, we do incur a bit of a problem. Since the grandson does not have any earned income, he would not be able to start a Roth IRA. Bummer.
My daughter age 14 worked part time for my wife’s employer 40 hours total, made $600. There’s no documentation except the company I assume has an image of the cashed check. How do I further document? Do they have to issue her a 1099? Does she have to file taxes despite not owning anything?
I want to open an IRA for her and whenever she works in this manner, put my own money into the account equal to her earnings.
How do I show my 10 years old son works in order to open a custodial Roth ira
Hi Angelo – I would think a W2 or paystubs would be all that’s needed.
Hi Jeff,
My 16 yr oldson works for my business and he gets a W2. He earns $4800 a year. You said any brokerage company will allow him to open an IRA as long as he has earned income. I checked Vanguard and Schwab and they require the account holder to be 18, saying he is too young to pen an account and directs him to the 529 which he already had. DO you know of specific companies that will allow someone like him to pen an IRA? Thanks.
Hi Elaine – Fidelity says they’ll do it.
Hi Jeff,
My 17 yo boys would like to start a Roth IRA. They have earned income but have not yet filed a tax return. Do they have to wait until after they have filed a return or can they set it up now and file a return next year? They haven’t had enough income to file yet.
Thanks in advance,
Rose
Hi Rose – They can make contributions up to the amount of income they’ve earned, as long as it’s W2 type income. They don’t have to file a return to be eligible.
Hi Jeff,
Can I open a Roth IRA for my child without filing a tax return for them? For example, they made $2,000 cash in 2016 for babysitting income at age 10 so they weren’t required to file. Do I need to report this cash to the IRS in order to open a Roth IRA?
Can I still claim them as a dependent on tax return along with opening a Roth IRA?
Thanks!
Hi Dennis – You should be able to make the contribution even without filing a return for them, but you may want to do so just so there is a tax record. You should still be able to claim them as dependents since they earned less than the threshold for filing.
I have seen people who leave their retirement to their trust for the benefit of their child or grandchild. The trust dictates that they may not take out more than the annual RMD and makes a determination whether the account can be disbursed to the beneficiary once they obtain a specific age. This does require that a tax return be filed every year by the trustee since the trust has become irrevocable after the passing of the Grantor and is identified by a tax id number. However the benefit is that it allows for the parent/grandparent to direct the distribution of assets beyond their lifetime. In addition, for firms like the one I work with most software is not smart enough to do the calculations for the annual RMD so it needs to be done manually which leaves room for error. It is a good idea to have this figure double checked before processing it annually.
Is there any vehicle (other than a Roth) where some kind of retirement account can be started by a grandparent for a child with little or no earned income?
Not really Mark. Retirement savings are tied to earned income, because that’s what you retire from. You can do with tax deferred savings for kids using a 529 plan or a Coverdell ESA for college.
Hi, Jeff. I have 7 young grandchildren and opened IULs for each to have a sizable, tax-free retirements. Paying for 20 years and each account uses the Global index. Does not require them to have jobs. I understand the fees, but see in the long run how my grandchildren will benefit financially.
Hi Leah – Those aren’t Roth IRAs but they are a possible work-around for kids who don’t have earned income. IUL are indexed universal life, that can invest in either a fixed account or an equity index account. It uses tax-deferred cash accumulation for retirement while maintaining a death benefit. That means that part of the premium will go to cover life insurance, so it won’t be a pure investment play. They aren’t for everyone, but they can work if a Roth isn’t possible.
Jeff
If my kids get a 1099 on investments, can this amount be put into Roth IRA? Would I have to actually pull the cash from those accounts and put into Roth IRA? Or could we use other cash?
Jay
Hi Jay – The answer is “no”, you cannot put those amounts into a Roth IRA. A Roth IRA is an IRA, which means it can only be funded with earned income. So unless your son or daughter have some sort of job, you won’t be able to fund a Roth IRA (or a traditional IRA) for them at all. Sorry, but that’s the rule!
Hi, we have two 5 yrs old, I’ve opened two Pre-Paid 4 yr University accounts and 2 529s their first month after birth.
My question is, how can I showed employment to open 2 IRAs that they can contribute and I can match their contribution?
How do I do this?
Alex
Regarding hiring your kids so you can contrbute to the IRA once should consider that they employer (parent) must withhold Employment taxes (At least FICA and Medicare) and pay the employer postion. Alternative the parents could issue a 1099 and let the kid pay the employment taxes. Hiring your kid to do chores would actually cost a parent money however if a parent hired a kid in their business then the business would get a deduction for the payment thus this is a great option.
I’m not sure this is true. I see it on posts like this a lot regarding custodial Roth’s, but the IRS says a dependent making earned income under $6,200 (in 2014) does not need to file. The Roth max is under this.
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p929/ar02.html
Just because you do not have to file doesn’t mean you cannot file. This is the whole idea. You file even though you don’t have to. You don’t have to because you don’t owe taxes. Owing no taxes is the whole reason you want to do a Roth.
Hi Danny – I follow your logic, but the only requirement is earned income, which can be substantiated with a W2. If the minor doesn’t need to file, then there’s no point. You can check with a CPA to get the right answer, but I suspect that’s what you’ll find.
But, if the earned income is not from a W2 (think shoveling sidewalks, mowing grass, lemonade stand, paper route, if those still exist), then filing the tax return and owing $0 taxes (per Danny’s comment) would seem like a way to substantiate the earned income upon which the ROTH contribution is predicated.
Hi Channon – I think you’re right, there has to be income shown somewhere to support the Roth contribution. IRA contributions are always based on earned income and that has to be documented, otherwise the Roth can be disallowed by the IRS.
My son is 18 and made $3k this year. I want to open a Roth IRA for him. I wouldnt typically file a tax return for him, since his earned income is below the required amount. My question is–do I need to file a tax return for him if I want to open the Roth for him?
Thanks
Kevin
@Kevin Double check with your CPA, but I would suspect that you would have to.
Hello Jeff,
If a child (2-year-old) earns money ($100) for participating in a research study can that money be treated as earned income for the purposes of setting up a Roth IRA in the amount of $100? The research organization did NOT issue a 1099-MISC because the amount falls below the $600 threshold. All I have are the informed consent for study participation and the cash disbursement forms.
Thanks,
Tom
Maybe this problem can be address a little different. If the grandparent/parent wanted to make an agreement with the child that 100% of their earnings will go into a Roth and that the grandparent/parent would gift the amount contributed to the child. At this point you can get creative on how to make the official taxable earnings.
Hello Jeff,
Could you tell me who your prior employer was that offered/allowed the IRA? I want my brother to open one for his son.
Also, under the header “Different Strategy” you mention RMD for the beneficiary. I’ve never heard of RMD’s for Roths.
Thanks for the great article.
@ Dimitri Pretty much all brokerages will open a Roth IRA for minor’s. The minor just has to have income.
Roth IRA’s do not RMD’s unless they are an inherited beneficiary Roth IRA.
Hi Jeff -great to come across your offer and useful info . I want to open Roth IRA for my 17 y.o son. I have my own business and her was on my Co payroll 3 years ago for less then a year. Then accountant advice to remove him from payroll -but he still keep working for me for some cash . Can I still open Roth IRA for him on that income he officially earned 3 years ago ? and what percentage of his salary I can put on Roth IRA for him ? Thank you , Natasha
@ Natasha Unfortunately, your son would have had to make the contribution prior to April 15th for the previous tax year. If doesn’t have any reportable income to report then he won’t be able to contribute. 🙁
I believe a child can have a contribution of $500.00 a year to his/her Roth IRA.
This could come from birthday monies or little chores around the home.
Cheers.
Hypothetically speaking, If my wife and I were to own a business and hire our kids on a monthly salary of say $100, could we pay them in the form of the roth IRA? For instance, living on a working ranch, we have a small business selling farm animals. Could I employ my 5 year old to do part time work for strictly these benifits?
@ Jim There has to be proof that they are actually on the payroll. But yes, many business owners do this for their kids.