3616. Can a taxpayer whose income level exceeds the limitations for Roth IRA contributions maintain a Roth IRA?Alexis Longrcline202015-06-05T15:01:00Z2015-06-05T15:01:00Z12171237Summit Business Media1021452140f08e536-ecc3-4201-b7c3-d3285df31d4d|f4a99f14-70d1-4322-89d4-6abb9d2ff0f8|5ae05dbf-6503-45b9-a3d4-c2349c79447c3616. Can a taxpayer whose income level exceeds the limitations for Roth IRA contributions maintain a Roth IRA?Yes. Despite the fact that a taxpayer whose income level exceeds the Roth IRA contribution limits cannot contribute directly to a Roth IRA, he or she is permitted to maintain a Roth account. In 2015, the ability to make contributions to a Roth IRA begins to phase out for married taxpayers with income over $183,000 ($116,000 for single taxpayers). Roth contributions are completely blocked for married taxpayers who earn over $193,000 and single taxpayers who earn over $131,000. .IR-2013-86 (Oct. 31, 2013), IR-2014-99 (Oct. 23, 2014).While contributions cannot be made directly to the Roth if the taxpayer’s income exceeds the annual income threshold, for tax years beginning in 2010 and after, the income limits that applied to prevent high-income taxpayers from making rollovers from traditional IRAs were eliminated. .IRC Secs. 408A(c)(3)(B), 408A(e).Therefore, many high-income taxpayers may make contributions indirectly to a Roth account, via a series of rollovers from traditional IRAs. The taxpayer must first open a traditional IRA if the taxpayer does not already maintain such an account (in 2015, each taxpayer can contribute up to $5,500 to an IRA ;$6,500 if the taxpayer is 50 or older). .IR-2013-86 (Oct. 31, 2013), IR-2014-99 (Oct. 23, 2014). The taxpayer can then roll all or a portion of the IRA into a Roth account each year, although taxes must be paid on the amounts that are rolled over. See Q 3617 for rules regarding rollovers from an IRA to a Roth IRA.