# Roth IRA + 401(k) Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 22, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045 "2010-02-22T23:01:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f07891/32.png) [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_am_a_scientist)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045/1 "2010-02-22T23:01:18Z")
If I contribute to my company’s 401(k) can I also contribute to a Roth IRA? ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045/2 "2010-02-22T23:02:00Z")
Gosh I hope so. Otherwise I’m in deep doo-doo. ---
**Author:** ![i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f07891/32.png) [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_am_a_scientist)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045/3 "2010-02-22T23:06:26Z")
no shit, me too - my company’s CFO just said “[he] doesn’t think so, but [he]'ll check” My financial advisor’s office in New York is closed and I wanted to see if I can get an answer ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f07891/32.png) [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_am_a_scientist)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045/4 "2010-02-22T23:10:12Z")
[This](http://www.doughroller.net/retirement-planning/2010-ira-contribution-limits/) seems to say that you can. > [@](#): > > IRAs (Independent Retirement Accounts) are a great way to save for retirement, even if you already have a 401k at work. seems pretty cut and dry, no? ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045/5 "2010-02-22T23:14:18Z")
Sorry. I didn’t mean to be so opaque. I’m pretty sure the only restriction on Roth IRA is your income. At least that is how I understand the situation and have acted accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045/6 "2010-02-22T23:17:03Z")
I believe the correct answer is that you can, up to a maximum % relative to your income level or a specific cap on the Roth IRA, though I can’t recall at the moment what it is. I would research it at [Motleyfool.com](http://Motleyfool.com) or other “investments in plain English” type website. If the contributions are to a traditional IRA, there is no issue. My understanding, however, is that the Roth IRA was sort of designed to be like a 401(K) for businesses or self employed folks who otherwise didn’t have access to one. It can also be used to supplement a 401(K) if you are one of those people (like me) who doesn’t otherwise want a fixed (high) percentage automatically stuck into the 401(K) because of variable expenses, but occasionally has some extra money to sock away and wants a low tax solution to do so. ---
**Author:** ![i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f07891/32.png) [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_am_a_scientist)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045/7 "2010-02-22T23:53:39Z")
I’m aware of the income limits; I suddenly got a jolt of fear that contributing to a 401K made you ineligible to contribute to a Roth (something they might have buried in the paperwork that I never looked at and only signed) ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045/8 "2010-02-23T04:48:41Z")
Income limits aside, you can contribute to both your 401(k) and IRAs. The limit for IRAs is $5,000 if you are under 50, $6,000 if 50 or over. This amount can be distributed between Traditional and Roth IRAs any way you wish, but the maximum combined total is $5/6k. These amounts are in addition to the $16,500 401(k) limit for under 50s and $22,000 for 50 and over. Specific company 401(k) plans may also impose a percentage of salary limit, but that is a limit that the company has set, not the government. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-ira-401-k-question/530045/9 "2010-02-23T10:38:42Z")
My company plan is specifically designed to allow that. Once I exceed the $22,000 contribution limit all future contributions are after tax and are added to a Roth account.