Pair up on savings with spousal IRAs
Here's an IRA that can help give your spouse equal footing when it comes to investing for retirement.
What is a spousal IRA?
Typically you need earned income to contribute to an IRA, but a spousal IRA relaxes that requirement and gives a husband or wife with low or no annual wages a way to save tax-efficiently for the future too.
What it isn't: It's not a different IRA type but simply a Roth or traditional IRA that lets a nonworking spouse have access to the tax favors and benefits that IRAs offer.
If your spouse is earning low or no annual wages, your spouse may be able to open a spousal IRA to save tax-efficiently for retirement. It's not a joint account, but rather a separate IRA set up in your spouse's name. You must be married and filing a joint tax return in order to open a spousal IRA.
Learn more about types of IRAs
Advantages of a spousal IRA
A spousal IRA provides a way to boost your retirement savings as a couple. Plus the spouse gets access to the same wide variety of investment choices, ranging from mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to individual stocks and bonds.
And while the 2026 maximum annual contribution limit of $7,500 ($8,600 for investors age 50 or older) may not seem like much, contributing this amount each year could make a real difference in a couple's retirement savings over time.
Simplify your retirement savings with a rollover IRA
Move your old 401(k) or other employer plan into a flexible Vanguard IRA offering low-cost, high-quality investments. In just 3 steps you can have your retirement savings in one place—making it easier to take charge of your finances.
Explore professional advice
We offer expert help at the low cost you'd expect from Vanguard.
Vanguard's advice services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc. ("VAI"), a registered investment advisor, or by Vanguard National Trust Company ("VNTC"), a federally chartered, limited-purpose trust company.
VAI and VNTC are subsidiaries of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and affiliates of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Neither VAI, VNTC, nor its affiliates guarantee profits or protection from losses.