A non-deductible IRA contribution refers to money put into a traditional IRA, for which the taxpayer does NOT get a tax deduction.
This is similar in concept to a Roth IRA, but a non-deductible contribution to a traditional IRA is not exactly the same thing as a contribution to a Roth IRA.
Traditional IRA
Money put into a traditional IRA is typically tax deductible, but is subject to income limitations. The income limitations vary depending on filing status and whether or not the taxpayer is covered by a retirement plan through their employer.
When a taxpayer’s income is too high to make a deductible contribution, they can still make a non-deductible contribution to the IRA. (The maximum amount that can be put into an IRA in one year is currently $5,500 for people under age 50, and $6,500 for people age 50 and older; these limits apply to both deductible and non-deductible contributions.)
Non-Deductible Contributions
So, a non-deductible contribution refers to money put into a traditional IRA, where the taxpayer didn’t qualify for a deduction for that contribution.
The implication of this is similar to that of making a contribution to a Roth IRA. When a taxpayer withdraws money from the traditional IRA, some or all of that withdrawal will be tax-free because it’s a return of non-deductible contributions.