<p>How can you start a Roth on a 14 year old? Do any kids that age actually have earned income? Isn’t that necessary?</p>
<p>An example, if your family own a business, you pay your kid to do some sorting/filling/data entry, as long as the kid has some income that is reported on W-2, you can do Roth IRA.
Roth IRA requires that you have reported income, unless you’re married then your spouse must have income.</p>
<p>kriket - in PA kids can legally work when they’re 14. I earned about $4,000 the year i turned 14.</p>
<p>My kids both started working at age 14 - totally legal here in Massachusetts. One bagged groceries at a local supermarket and the other worked in a sports store.</p>
<p>I think you can work here too in CA but summer jobs fair suggested 16-year as a minimum.</p>
<p>Most kids here start working when they’re 14 or so. I know all of the kids in my family did, and all of my friends during junior high/high school worked as well.</p>
<p>my oldest started working when she was 12- but that was a volunteer job- funny thing- if they don’t pay you- they can work you longer days than if they do pay you. ( of course I have since found out that working every weekend one day and after school two days was something she volunteered for not something that was required!)
They have now changed the same position to require workers to be 14.
I personally think that a students primary job should be school, then sports or another activity if interested and only a paying or volunteer type job if hours are limited and environment is controlled.
Minors need a work permit and employers hiring minors need to have proper forms on file with the school district
<a href=“http://www.hrcalifornia.com/cid.cfm?web=346&cid=llu_topstory[/url]”>http://www.hrcalifornia.com/cid.cfm?web=346&cid=llu_topstory</a></p>
<p>Working at age 14 is common here and my S did. Requires a work permit, which is signed off by school Superintendent (don’t ask me why?) and there are restrictions on how many and what hours as well as what industries and positions are allowed.</p>
<p>In other areas where I’ve lived, it was less common. Too much competion where I grew up (Washington, DC area) - flood of college kids soaked up the better jobs; lesser jobs trickled down to older hs students. My first job was at about age 16 and even then was a “small” (but great) job, ushering at the National Theatre. Saw Ethel Merman in Annie Get Your Gun half a dozen times. Pay was $1.25 per night!</p>
<p>D has worked every summer since she was 14 and saved her paychecks. We pay tuition, room & board, transportation, books, and initially help her set up her room at college. After that, she is on her own - no allowance. She is grateful that we send her to the college of her choice and has no problem parting with a little of that money she earned on her cell phone, personal expenses, etc. She has learned to be frugal with her hard earned money but enjoys going into the city to restaurants, etc. and would never want or expect an allowance as a college student. Values her indepence too much!</p>