The short answer

Yes — you can still contribute to an IRA after age 73, provided you have earned income. This changed under the SECURE Act of 2019, which eliminated the old age 70½ cutoff that had previously prevented traditional IRA contributions past that age.

This means that South Jersey retirees who are still working — full-time, part-time, consulting, or self-employed — can continue building IRA balances even while taking required minimum distributions from those same accounts or others.

The earned income requirement

IRA contributions of any type require earned income. The IRS defines earned income as wages, salaries, tips, self-employment income, and certain other compensation. Pension income, Social Security benefits, investment income, RMD amounts, and rental income do not count as earned income for IRA contribution purposes.

The contribution limit for 2026 is $7,000 per person ($8,000 if you are 50 or older, including the catch-up contribution). You cannot contribute more than your earned income for the year — so if you earned $4,000 in consulting fees, your IRA contribution limit is $4,000, not $7,000.

For a married couple where one spouse has earned income and the other does not, the working spouse can make a “spousal IRA” contribution on behalf of the non-working spouse, up to the contribution limit, as long as the couple files jointly.

Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA after 73

Both traditional and Roth IRA contributions are available after age 73 with earned income.

Roth IRA contributions are not subject to income-based age restrictions at all — they are available at any age to those with earned income who fall within the income limits ($150,000 single / $236,000 joint for 2026 before phase-out begins).

Traditional IRA contributions are also available after age 73. However, traditional IRA contributions may or may not be deductible depending on your income and whether you or your spouse have access to a workplace retirement plan. Non-deductible traditional IRA contributions create a “basis” that requires careful tracking (Form 8606) to avoid double taxation on withdrawal.

For most South Jersey clients in this situation, Roth IRA contributions — or Roth 401(k) contributions if still employed — tend to be more attractive than non-deductible traditional IRA contributions, because the Roth assets are not subject to RMDs and grow tax-free.

The RMD and contribution interaction

One point of confusion: you must still take your RMD from any traditional IRA or 401(k) that is subject to RMDs, even in years when you are also making contributions. The RMD and the new contribution are separate transactions.

You cannot contribute your RMD distribution back into the IRA — an RMD cannot be rolled over. However, if you have separate earned income, you can make a new IRA contribution using that income while simultaneously taking your required distribution from existing accounts.

For example: a 74-year-old who consults part-time and earns $15,000 in 2026 must still take their RMD from their traditional IRA, but can also contribute up to $8,000 to a Roth IRA using their consulting income.

Why this matters more than it might seem

For South Jersey retirees who are still working in some capacity, the ability to continue IRA contributions after 73 provides:

• Additional Roth accumulation during years of earned income, building tax-free assets outside RMD rules
• A way to convert earned income into sheltered, growing assets rather than simply paying taxes on it and spending it
• A supplemental strategy alongside Roth conversions for reducing the future pre-tax balance that drives RMDs

The amounts are modest compared to 401(k) limits, but the compounding value and the structural simplicity of Roth IRA assets in very late life make them worth considering for qualifying clients.

The WealthCare perspective

At Family Wealth Management, we review IRA contribution eligibility as part of the annual WealthCare check-in for clients who have any form of earned income in retirement. For clients working in transition roles, consulting arrangements, or family businesses, this is often a missed opportunity.

The interaction between earned income, IRA contributions, RMD obligations, and Roth conversion strategy is the kind of multi-variable planning question the WealthCare Process is designed to address systematically — not as a one-time calculation, but as an annual review that adapts as your income and situation change.

What to do next

If you are over 73 and have some form of earned income, or if you have a spouse who does, contact our team to determine whether IRA contributions belong in your current plan. Call (856) 988-7722 or visit familywealthadvisory.com.