Subcontractors must pay Social Security: ; Law doesn't allow extra contributions to your IRAs

Q. My wife is a court reporter who works for a private firm as asubcontractor. We each started Roth IRAs last year. Since my wife isself-employed and pays no Social Security, can she contribute morethan $2,000?

T.S.

Knoxville, Tenn.

A. I don't know how your wife is getting away with not payingSocial Security. She is obligated as a self-employed person to paythe self-employed rate, which is slightly over 15 percent.

I urge you to have an appropriate tax preparer take a look atyour taxes and very possibly submit an amended return. It'sunequivocal that if your wife is working as a subcontractor she isas responsible for the Social Security deductions as any …