Series 65: Contributing To An IRA

Contributing to an IRA

The government puts limits on IRA deduction amounts. All contributions must be made only from earned income, as opposed to passive income. Earned income typically means wages, or as the IRS puts it, taxable compensation. (Unearned income includes dividends, capital gains, and interest on securities; social security benefits; unemployment benefits; child support; rental income; and inherited funds.) Traditional IRA contributions are limited to $5,500 per individual for both 2014 and 2015, but an additional $5,500 can be contributed to t