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Returning Member
posted Feb 25, 2024 6:12:35 PM

Roth IRA Recharacterization to Traditional IRA

I exceeded by salary limit and had to recharacterize my 2023 Roth IRA contribution to a Traditional IRA contribution.  My investment company calculated I had a capital gain of $648.  Since this exceeds my allowable contribution of $6,500 for 2023, TurboTax said I need to withdraw the $648 excess amount from this Traditional IRA carryover before the April 15 tax deadline or I would incur a fine from the IRS.  How do I report this capital gain and how do I calculate the taxes owed on this amount?

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1 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 4, 2024 10:51:28 AM

No, you do not need to withdraw an excess contribution since you do not have an excess contribution. Please review the instructions below. It seem you entered the contribution amount plus earnings on the  “Switch from a Roth To a Traditional IRA?” screen instead of only the contribution amount.

 

You will enter the recharacterization when you enter the contribution to the Roth IRA:

 

  1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
  2. Click on "Search" on the top right and type “IRA contributions” 
  3. Click on “Jump to IRA contributions"
  4. Select “Roth IRA
  5. Answer ‘Yes” on the “Roth IRA Contribution” screen
  6. Answer “No” to “Is This a Repayment of a Retirement Distribution
  7. Enter the Roth contribution amount 
  8. Answer “Yes” to the recharacterized question on the “Switch from a Roth To a Traditional IRA?” screen and enter the contribution amount (no earnings or losses) on the next screen.
  9. TurboTax will ask for an explanation statement where it should be stated that the original $xxx.xx plus $xxx.xx earnings (or loss) were recharacterized.
  10. On the screen "Choose Not to Deduct IRA Contributions" answer "Yes" if you are thinking about doing a backdoor Roth. Otherwise select "No". (If you have a retirement plan at work and are over the income limit it will be nondeductible automatically and you only get a warning and then a screen saying $0 is deductible)