Backdoor Roth Conversions getting flagged as "excess contributions"

Forum|Forum|7 months ago
January 24, 2026
56 replies
332 views

Hi, the existing instructions on entering a backdoor roth appear out of date with the current set of questions. Each time I enter in my backdoor roth, it gets flagged as an excess contribution. There is a confusing question about recharacterization which I've been leaving blank. In doing a backdoor roth from funds contributed to a Traditional IRA, how do you answer the recharacterization questions?

TurboTax Online

Best answer by dmertz

A backdoor Roth is a traditional IRA contribution followed by a Roth conversion. It does not involve a recharacterization of the traditional IRA contribution. When entering the traditional IRA contribution, answer No when asked if you recharacterized (or "switched") the contribution.

If TurboTax is flagging an excess contribution, either you mistakenly indicated that you did such a recharacterization or you separately entered a Roth IRA contribution.

dmertzAnswer

Level 15

If TurboTax is flagging an excess contribution, either you mistakenly indicated that you did such a recharacterization or you separately entered a Roth IRA contribution.

sleschuk79Author

Level 2

I backed out all information about recharacterization and double checked that no roth contributions were indicated. I'm still getting the excess contribution notification.

I suspect that there is a bug in turbotax software. The 1099-R functionality was delayed and clearly they don't have it quite right. The help articles also no longer match the questions you get asked. I'd hate to move off of turbotax as I've used it for many years, but this might be the last straw.

baldietax

Level 12

A lot of people are inputting 1099R and backdoors already it's likely working fine so I wouldn't jump to conclusion it's a TT issue - it's something to troubleshoot here if you provide more info or screenshots it might help. I do agree the help article below for backdoor Roth doesn't seem to be updated for the new screens. Form 8606 is also not finalized for filling not sure the sticking point but I don't think that affects these calcs.

First question just to confirm, do you have "earned" income like a W2? Otherwise your IRA contribution is not valid and will be flagged as an excess.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/retirement-benefits/enter-backdoor-roth-ira-conversion/L7gGPjKVY_US_en_US

jj34

Level 2

I clicked the "recharacterization" button before reading this discussion and of course got flagged for excess contribution to my IRA. Now I can't "unselect" by revisiting the topic on the online version of TurboTax. What should I do?

RogerD1

Level 9

If you go back to the Deductions and credits section and then click Revisit for Traditional and Roth IRA Contributions in the Retirements and Investments category, you'll get a screen "Tell us about your IRAs". You can unselect the check box (or boxes) for the Traditional IRA contribution, then Continue. You'll get a pop-up asking if you are sure you want to delete this contribution and you select Yes and that will delete that information. You can then go back and revisit the IRA contribution section and re-enter the contribution and mark that you did not recharacterize the contribution.

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