Ineligible Roth IRA contribution

[gualss]

Today I just discovered that my 2023 Roth IRA contribution was ineligible because my spouse and I filed married separately and resided together.

If we amend our 2023 taxes today (9/2024) to file jointly; will this correct the ineligible status.

Please also note, my spouse had a tax payment due, which has been paid, and I received a refund.

[dmertz · Accepted solution]

If you were ineligible for the Roth IRA contribution only because your own MAGI filing separately was above $153,000 but filing jointly your MAGI together will be below $218,000, yes, amending to joint filing would eliminate the excess contribution.  Yes, you are permitted to amend to change from the separate tax returns to a joint tax return.  The instructions for Form 1040-X have instructions for amending from separate to joint.