A working spouse can now shield $14,000 of household income from taxes — not $7,000 — if they act by April 15

A working spouse can now shield $14,000 of household income from taxes — not $7,000 — if they act by April 15.

That’s the maximum a married couple can contribute to their individual retirement accounts for the 2025 tax year, even if only one spouse earns an income. The IRS allows a working spouse to fund both their own IRA and a separate account for a non-working partner, so long as the couple files taxes jointly and their earned income covers both contributions.

Each spouse may contribute up to $7,000 to their own IRA for 2025. Those aged 50 or older can add a $1,000 catch-up contribution. This means a qualifying couple can put away $14,000 this year — or $16,000 if both are 50 or older — doubling what a single worker could contribute alone.

The accounts must remain separate. A spousal IRA is not a joint account. Each contribution counts toward the individual’s annual limit. The household’s total contributions cannot exceed its taxable earned income, though most couples are more likely to hit the per-person cap than the income ceiling.

How much of that $14,000 or $16,000 counts as deductible depends on income and retirement plan coverage. For couples covered by a workplace plan, the tax deduction for traditional IRA contributions phases out between $129,000 and $149,000 of modified adjusted gross income. Roth IRAs follow a different path: full contributions are allowed below $236,000, partial contributions up to $246,000, and none beyond.

A household earning $240,000 can still make a partial Roth contribution for the non-working spouse — effectively doubling their access to tax-free growth. Above $246,000, neither spouse can contribute to a Roth, and traditional IRA deductions may be limited, but the spousal contribution mechanism remains available for those within range.

The window closes April 15. Unlike workplace 401(k) contributions, which are locked to the calendar year, IRA contributions for 2025 can be made through the tax filing deadline. Couples who have not yet acted can still establish and fund a spousal IRA — and lock in the full benefit.