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Level 2
April 15, 2020

Roth IRA contribution for a deceased spouse

  • April 15, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 11 views

Spouse dies in 2020.  Can suriving spouse contribute to both Roth IRA's for 2019?

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    1 reply

    rbynaker
    Level 13
    April 15, 2020

    No.  A quick Google search found hits referencing PLR 8439066:

    "Since A is deceased, the contribution made by Estate X would not be a contribution for retirement purposes. Since A had not made a contribution to B's spousal IRA before her death, Estate X cannot, subsequent to A's death, make a contribution to B's spousal IRA based upon the compensation A received during taxable year [the year of A's death].
    Based on the foregoing, we conclude that Estate X cannot make tax-deductible contributions to an IRA on behalf of A, nor can Estate X make tax-deductible contributions to B's spousal IRA for taxable year [the year of A's death]."

    Intuit Community Champion
    April 17, 2020

    Your search says a contribution cannot be made on earnings made in year of death, but poster is asking about contributing for funds made in the year before death. I am not sure, but I would think you can. Need to research.