No. Generally speaking, the IRS allows you to make your IRA contribution for a particular tax year up until April 15 of the following year. This rule applies to both traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, giving you some flexibility in terms of the timing of your annual IRA contribution. In 2008 and 2009, you can contribute a total of $5,000 a year to all the IRAs you own. In addition, if you're age 50 or older, you can make an extra "catch-up" contribution of $1,000 a year in 2008 and 2009.

Note that you can make your annual IRA contribution in a series of payments rather than in one lump sum. For example, let's say you want to invest the maximum amount in your IRA for 2009. You can either make a lump-sum contribution of $5,000, or you can set up a savings plan whereby you invest a fixed amount each month in your IRA. Because you're allowed to spread your 2009 IRA contribution over a 15½-month period (January 1, 2009, through April 15, 2010), you can invest as little as $322.58 per month and still end up contributing the full $5,000.