Thank you for your reply regarding my Roth IRA!
I did back out the 2020 first excess contribution and $1,670 in earnings in Mar'21 before the 2020 tax filing deadline so will pay no 6% penalty for it on my 2021 return. Now I am amending the 2020 return to declare the $1,670 of earnings from that backed out contribution. That in turn increased my 2020 AGI and reduced the 2020 IRA contribution I can make. The reduced contribution limit created a new 2020 excess contribution of $1,170 (and earnings). My understanding is that I must also add those earnings to my 2020 amended return because that is the year the excess contribution was made. This will further reduce the 2020 contribution limit and create a new 2020 excess contribution and earnings and the problem just repeats--all pertaining to tax year 2020. But I believe you are saying that since I will owe a 6% penalty on the $1,170, I do not withdraw the earnings or add them to my 2020 AGI. Depending on when an excess contribution is reversed, you either you pay the 6% penalty on the excess contribution or you add the earnings to your AGI--but not both. Is that correct?
Let me make sure I understand your answer. If I ask my brokerage firm to return the second excess contribution of $1,170, before the 2021 tax filing deadline next month, I will not back out the earnings with it. This means there will be no further increase to my 2020 AGI and no further reduction of my 2020 IRA contribution limit, ending the infinite loop. I will however pay the 6% penalty on $1,170 on my 2020 amended return. I will also pay the 6% penalty on my 2021 return even though I reversed the excess contribution before the 2021 filing deadline, right? That should wrap up everything. No other amended return besides 2020. Do I have all this correct?
One last question...you stated: "You will request a regular distribution for the $1,170 and this will go on your 2022 return." (I interpret "regular distribution" to mean a request to return an excess contribution, not simply an IRA withdrawal) Since this is a Roth IRA, the contribution was made with after-tax money so the $1,170 will not go on my return, correct? If so, can I request the return of excess now and include it on my 2021 return (not yet filed)?
Thank you again very much! This is very helpful!
