Can I make IRA contributions as an expat?
US citizens abroad can contribute to IRAs, but foreign earned income exclusions and no US taxable income can block eligibility. Learn the workaround strategies.
You can contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA as an expat, but only if you have taxable compensation that is not fully excluded by the FEIE or foreign housing exclusion. If you exclude all your income using the FEIE, you have no taxable compensation left for IRA contribution purposes. One workaround is to claim only part of the FEIE and use the foreign tax credit for the remainder, which preserves taxable income for IRA eligibility. For 2026, the IRA contribution limit is $7,000 if you are under 50, or $8,000 if you are 50 or older. You must have US-sourced or unexcluded foreign earned income to qualify.