IRA question

S

Shadetree42

Can the following person contribute to his Roth IRA for 2013?

-- Full-time, self-employed trader who files as single with trader tax status (Schedule C).
-- AGI for 2013 will be ~$50,000.
-- No other source of income.
 
this is an age old question

it was a lot easier back when the max IRA contribution was just 2k

what is it now?

You can form some kind of business like an LLC or even just a sole proprietor and pay yourself a salary and that gives you "earned income"

but then you also have to pay SE tax

never been good for me

but it depends on your trading style and what it is long term you are trying to accomplish, and also your age, and your dependents

doubt you will ever find an accountant to give you the right answer

spend a slow weekend in the IRS publications and figure it out for yourself

no difference between a tax strategy and a trading strategy

just weigh the difference, IRA vs SE tax, it's probably different for everybody
 
Quote from Shadetree42:

Can the following person contribute to his Roth IRA for 2013?

-- Full-time, self-employed trader who files as single with trader tax status (Schedule C).
-- AGI for 2013 will be ~$50,000.
-- No other source of income.
More...

what you want is Roth 401K
How Do I Start a ROTH 401k?

If you are self-employed, with no employees other than your spouse, you may set up what is sometimes referred to as an IndivdualK or SoloK plan that allows you to make ROTH 401k contributions.
More...
http://moneyover55.about.com/od/401...s-Differ-From-Regular-401ks-And-Roth-Iras.htm
 
From what I've seen, tax advice on ET tends to be very bad, unless it's from a real-life tax professional, only one of which I'm sure exists on these forums.

That said, my understanding is that you can't create an IRA or a 401K without "earned income", and I think that it's a challenge to get this from trading unless you use an entity.

But don't rely on advice here (including mine) for legal/accounting answers. My approach for such things is to Google for the blogs from well-known trader tax CPA/law firms, and/or utilize their counsel directly.
 
how about this: husband and wife,filing jointly, she is making earned income,he-short term gains. total below 180K or whatever limit is.
can they both contribute to Roth IRA, or only wife? :)

Thank you!

if it would say- for yourself AND your spouse-then it would be clear,but it's not(at least not to me)


http://individual.troweprice.com/public/Retail/Retirement/IRA/Roth-IRA#contribute

---You may be able to contribute to a Roth IRA for yourself or your spouse if you have earned income. You must also fall below the following Roth IRA income limits:---
 
Can someone who knows define (per IRS rules) what exactly "earned income" is and is not? Is, say, gambling winnings considered earned income?
 
Quote from kid.fx.cross:

yeah well whatever, you still need "earned income" you can't do it with just capital gains on sched D
More...

Quite obviously you have never read the tax code.

IRS Code Section 1402 (i) makes capital gains (Form 6781/Schedule D) income earned income for options and commodities dealers in Section 1256 contracts without changing its taxation as 60/40 capital gains income.

Special rules for special people.
 
Quote from Shadetree42:

Can someone who knows define (per IRS rules) what exactly "earned income" is and is not? Is, say, gambling winnings considered earned income?
More...

Defining earned income is not easy.

Read the tax code. You need to start by reading IRS Code Section 1402.

One of the gems is Section 1402 (i) which makes capital gains (Form 6781/Schedule D) income earned income for options and commodities dealers in Section 1256 contracts without changing its taxation as 60/40 capital gains income.

If you are not an exchange member then Section 1402 (i) does not apply to you.

As far as gambling winnings, it all depends. In the case Baxter v United States (1986) a professional poker player had his poker winnings declared as earned income. For a casual poker player or a lottery winner it would be "other" income and not earned income.
 
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