do you have to be working to be able to contribute to a Roth IRA?

Answer 1

You have to have "earned income" some time during the year for which you're making the contribution. Earned income can be wages or salary that you get from an employer or earnings from self-employment. You can contribute any earned income you have, up to a limit of $4,000 (or $5,000 if you're 50 or over). For example, if you have $2,500 in earnings this year, you can contribute up to $2,500 to a Roth IRA, but not more. If you have $6,000 in earned income this year, you can contribute up to whichever limit applies to you.

You don't have to be working at the time you make the contribution. You just need to have earned some income at some point during the year. For more information about retirement accounts, see the webpage below.

Answer 2

Yes.
Any individual who has taxable compensation or self-employment income (earned by sole proprietors and partners) for the year may establish and fund a Roth IRA. To be eligible to make a participant contribution, the individual must have a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) that is less than a certain amount, depending on the tax-filing status of the individual. Here are the MAGI limits:

$160,000 for individuals who are married and file a joint tax return.
$10,000 for individuals who are married, lived with their spouse at anytime during the year, and file a separate tax return.
$110,000 for individuals who file as single, head of household, or married filing separately and did not live with his or her spouse at any time during the year.

Answer 3

Yes you do.

Answer 4

no