Spousal IRAs are a great way for a couple to increase savings and ensure the non-working spouse has a retirement account of their own. A spousal contribution can also allow you to contribute more than you otherwise could if one spouse works but earns a small amount of money. These accounts can be either Traditional IRAs or Roth IRAs. 

Setting up a Spousal IRA is a very straightforward process. Simply open an IRA in the non-working spouse’s name. IRAs must be individual and cannot be jointly titled. Keep in mind that once a contribution is made, the assets are 100% owned by the person on the title of the account.

2026 Contribution Limits

Contribution limits for Spousal IRAs follow the same rules as other IRAs. For 2026, the maximum annual contribution to an IRA is $7,500 (or $8,600 if you are age 50 or older). This limit applies to all contributions to all IRAs combined. For spousal IRAs, the couple must have at least the amount of the total contributions in earned income.

Deductibility and Active Participation

Traditional IRA contributions are generally tax-deductible, though this benefit is often restricted by your income and your "active participant" status in a workplace retirement plan. You are typically considered an active participant if you or your employer contributed to a plan like a 401(k), SIMPLE, or SEP during the tax year. If neither you nor your spouse is an active participant, your contributions are fully deductible regardless of your earnings. However, if either spouse is covered by a workplace plan, the deduction for the non-working spouse is subject to a phase-out rule, meaning the tax break gradually disappears as your combined income moves through the $129,000–$149,000 range for 2026.

Roth IRA Eligibility

For Roth IRAs, direct contribution eligibility is limited based on income. For married couples filing jointly, Roth IRA eligibility phases out over the $242,000–$252,000 level for the 2026 tax year.

Age Rules and RMDs

Following the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0, there is no age limit for making IRA contributions as long as there is qualifying earned income. This makes the spousal IRA particularly attractive for older couples where one spouse is still working. Additionally, for individuals reaching age 72 after 2022, the starting age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) has been increased to 73 or 75, depending on birth year.

Always double-check with your CPA before making IRA contributions. If you have any questions about spousal IRAs or any other retirement saving topics, please contact us!