Final answer:
Harriet can contribute $6,000 to her Roth IRA if filing jointly, but her contribution may be limited if filing separately. Harry can contribute up to $4,000, his earned income, to his Roth IRA if they file separately and did not live together.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the contributions that Harriet and Harry Combs can make to their Roth IRAs under different filing status conditions. Roth IRA contributions are subject to income limits and filing status requirements as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). For the year 2019, the maximum contribution amount is $6,000 for individuals under 50 years of age.
a. Harriet's Contribution with Joint Return
As Harriet and Harry's combined Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $50,000 and they are under the limit for Roth IRA contributions for married couples filing jointly, Harriet can contribute the maximum amount of $6,000 to her Roth IRA.
b. Harriet's Contribution with Separate Return
If Harriet files separately, she may be subject to a lower contribution limit or may not be able to contribute to a Roth IRA at all, as the income threshold for contributing to a Roth IRA is significantly lower for those filing separately. However, specific information for limits in 2019 is necessary to determine the exact contribution amount she is eligible for. When filing separately, if Harriet lives with her spouse at any time during the year and her income is $10,000 or more, she cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.
c. Harry's Contribution with Separate Return
If Harry files separately from Harriet, his contribution limit would also be affected by the same thresholds as Harriet's. Given his income of $4,000, Harry can contribute up to the amount he earned, so he can contribute the full $4,000 to his Roth IRA as long as they did not live together.