Acer31
Returning Member

Past 4 years of Roth IRA excess contributions. Thought my account was a traditional IRA and filed taxes with 3 of the 4 taking the deduction. How to handle?

I have a strange one here that I am not sure how to handle.  I opened a Roth IRA in 2007 and contributed to the Roth IRA in 2007,2008, and 2009 when my income was lower and filed the taxes in those years as contributing to a Roth.  I did not contribute to an IRA again until 2014 when I contributed into this Roth IRA.  However, I had forgotten that it was a Roth and thought it was a traditional IRA.  I contributed to it and took the deduction on my taxes as a traditional IRA.  I was not eligible for a Roth IRA contribution.  I continued to do this for 2015, 2016, and 2017 making it 4 years total that I put it in the Roth account while all along thinking this was a traditional account.  Now I am trying to figure out what options I have.  Can I just reclassify this and pay the penalty?  What options do I have available?