Can I max out my Roth IRA for both 2017 and 2018 in 2018 without incurring a fee?

[dwang2015]

Contribution deadline for Roth IRA in 2017 is April 2018. Therefore, will the IRS fine me for contributing over the limit in a 12 month period or will they be able to distinguish between contribution period depending on how it was reported during taxes?

[dail0044 · Accepted solution]

You declare on your taxes which contribution year the contribution applies to. As long as the 2017 contributions are made before the April, 2018, filing date, they can be applied to 2017, and you can still contribute the full amount for 2018, until the April 2019 filing date.