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Emy95
Returning Member

ROTH IRA excess contribution

Last year in 2024 I was a full time student and not worked only made $4,800 but contributed the full $7,000. Is there any way to remove the $2,200 without paying taxes on it? I did submit a removal of excess contribution form to Primerica back in April but they sent me a letter saying they couldn’t process it. I called the customer service line to process a resubmission and still they aren’t able to process the request as it is closed. Do I just take a regular distribution and receive a 1099r for early distribution and pay the penalties next year? If I do the distribution I will put it back and contribute it for this year 2025. 

 

Note: I did file a tax return extension back in March so taxes haven’t been filed yet.

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17 Replies

ROTH IRA excess contribution

Why couldn't they process a return of excess?  What do you mean it was "closed"?  You should still be able to do a return of excess contribution up until October 15.  On the other hand, if your investment has earned more than a 6% return, you could end up ahead even paying the penalty.

 

Will you have compensation from working for 2025?  And have you already contributed for 2025 or not?

Emy95
Returning Member

ROTH IRA excess contribution

This is what the letter states: “We have received your request to process a removal of excess 2024 contributions to your reference account. However, we are unable to process this request because it was received after the tax deadline for the removal of 2024 excess contributions. Please note, removing an excess contribution after the tax filing deadline is not a method approved by the IRS. For assistance with excess contributions past the removal deadline, please consult a licensed tax advisor.” Yes, I’m working this year and also yes I’m contributing this year and it is below the maximum contribution.

ROTH IRA excess contribution

Did you  file yet ??

You must have a) filed by Tax Day, or b) requested an extension of time to file by tax day to take advantage of the Oct 15 deadline.

 

The custodian has to take your word for it.

If they don't cooperate, you can calculate the earnings yourself, and attach an explanation statement to your amended tax return.

 

If you didn't file timely as above, the custodian is correct.

 

@Emy95 

ROTH IRA excess contribution

Oops I didn't see your final Note; that you requested an extension !

 

@Emy95 

ROTH IRA excess contribution

@Emy95 

Ok, so there's the easy way and the hard way (and a really hard way).

 

The hard way is to go back to the broker, call and ask for a supervisor, and explain that you have an extension. You might offer to fax them proof of your extension and a copy of pages 42-43 of publication 590-A. 

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p590a.pdf

 

However, as @fanfare  says, this is really none of their business, it's between you and the IRS whether your withdrawal is considered timely.

 

If the broker agrees, then you report the entire Roth contribution.  When Turbotax tells you it is excess, you agree that you will remove the excess before the (extended) deadline.  Then, you need to create a substitute 1099-R for the withdrawal (because you won't get a real 1099-R until January).  For the substitute 1099-R, enter the full amount of the withdrawal in box 1, the taxable earnings in box 2a, and use codes "P" and "J" in box 7.

 

The really hard way is to figure out the withdrawal amount yourself (the formula is available online), ask for a regular withdrawal, and report it in the same way I described.  The problem is that your paperwork will not match and the IRS may eventually come to you asking for an explanation.

 

The easy way is to leave the money in the Roth IRA and pay the 6% penalty on the excess portion of the contribution ($132).  Then, for 2025, you have three options.

  • a. Leave the excess in the account and pay another 6% penalty on your 2025 return.
  • b. If you have earnings from work in 2025, you can apply the excess toward your 2025 limit.  For example, if your 2025 earnings are $5000, you could contribute $2800, and the $2200 excess carryover will be applied to "fill up" your 2025 limit, and it will no longer be considered excess.  Note that if you already made too much 2025 contributions, it should be easy to remove them as excess since it is not even the end of the year yet.
  • c. Make a regular withdrawal of $2200.  It will not be taxable because withdrawals of Roth contributions are never taxable (unless you already withdrew all your past contributions and are now dipping into earnings).  You do not have to remove any earnings, just the $2200 excess contribution.  (The penalty on the earnings was covered by the 6% on your 2024 tax return.)  Don't ask for anything special, just a regular withdrawal of the excess amount.  This will work itself out on your tax return.

 

Item (c) is worth considering if your growth/earnings this year are close to or more than 6%, because your penalty will be more than offset by account growth.   Item (a) is also worth considering if your growth is more than 6% and you don't have wages in 2025 but expect to have wages in 2026. 

 

It all depends on how much of a fight you want to put up to not pay the 6% penalty on your 2024 return.   (For what it's worth, my Roth IRA is up 10.1% over the last 12 months, but it will depend on what you invested in.)

ROTH IRA excess contribution

"IRS may eventually come to you asking for an explanation."

 

Whwn adjusting for 1099-R issues, attach an explanation statement of your treatment including dates and amounts.

IRS asks for this in any and all out-of-the-ordinary IRA activity.

ROTH IRA excess contribution


@fanfare wrote:

"IRS may eventually come to you asking for an explanation."

 

Whwn adjusting for 1099-R issues, attach an explanation statement of your treatment including dates and amounts.

IRS asks for this in any and all out-of-the-ordinary IRA activity.


Yes, but you can't attach statements when e-filing with Turbotax.  You would need to use a different software that allows attachments (if any do) or print your return, and file by mail including the attachment.

Emy95
Returning Member

ROTH IRA excess contribution

The other day I called again and spoke to a supervisor. I faxed them my tax extension, the IRS IRA rules, and a formal statement. I received a transaction confirmation about two days later. It was not easy but yay it’s done. 

When I receive the 2025 1099R next year, do I need to anything or do I just ignore it since I’m reporting it in 2024? Also, I had them reinvest the excess contributions and earnings this year 2025, just to confirm, the total contributions for this year includes the earnings too, correct? I want to make sure I report my IRA contributions correctly next year. 

Thank you so much for your help! @Opus 17 @fanfare 

Emy95
Returning Member

ROTH IRA excess contribution

When I try to file a substitute 1099R, it is asking me to explain how I tried to get a 1099R. I know I’ll receive it next year in 2026. But now, TT is saying I owe 10% on early distribution. From my understanding there is a new law that removes the 10% early withdrawal penalty on earnings removed with excess if you do it timely. Is the distribution code correct? 

This is from Fidelity.  

ROTH IRA excess contribution

Do not use a substitute Form 1099-R

Instead you must fabricate a 2025 1099-R with the codes PJ and earnings in taxable amount box.

Tell TurboTax the 1099-R is a 2025 1099-R

 

whatever you chosse to apply to 2025 contribution it must be no more than your compensation, or $7,000 whichever is smaller. Otherwise you will be back in the same boat.

 

If you report the correct positive earnings now, you can ignore the 1099-R next year, assuming it agrees with your fabrication.

 

There is no longer a  10% penalty on the excess earnings removed before age 59 1/2.

You don't need an explanation statement for this scenario.

 

@Emy95 

Emy95
Returning Member

ROTH IRA excess contribution

What do you mean by fabricate a 2025 1099R? I told TT I received a 1099R in 2024 (even though I’ll receive it next year) so I could input the information. After I entered the necessary info, clicked “2025”, “none of these apply to me” (when asked if need to file a substitute 1099R) I still have a 10% penalty on the earnings. Now, TT is saying I could reduce my early withdrawal penalty if I did the following:

IMG_0532.jpeg

 

Am I doing this correctly? I appreciate your help. 

ROTH IRA excess contribution

" I told TT I received a 1099R in 2024"

That doesn't work.

fabricate means: "make it up" , see above, where I tell you what does work.
:

 

@Emy95 

 

 

ROTH IRA excess contribution


@Emy95 wrote:

What do you mean by fabricate a 2025 1099R? I told TT I received a 1099R in 2024 (even though I’ll receive it next year) so I could input the information. After I entered the necessary info, clicked “2025”, “none of these apply to me” (when asked if need to file a substitute 1099R) I still have a 10% penalty on the earnings. Now, TT is saying I could reduce my early withdrawal penalty if I did the following:

 

It's not clear what you actually did.  It is critical that you use codes P and J in box 7 of the 1099-R that you enter.  That will tell turbotax this is a corrective distribution, and the earnings portion is taxable but not subject to the 10% penalty.  

 

If you still get that same screen (you should not) enter the box 2A taxable earnings portion in the box labeled "Corrective distributions" (4th from the bottom).  The program should be smart enough not to ask when you use code P and J, but if it does ask, putting the box 2A amount on that screen should remove the penalty.   

 

Remember, enter a 1099-R as if you got one (not a substitute).  Report the entire withdrawal in box 1 and the taxable earnings portion in box 2A, and codes P and J in box 7.  No other boxes or codes should be entered or checked.

 

In January 2026, you will receive an actual 1099-R with the exact same information.  File it with your important papers but do not enter it on your 2025 tax return.  

Emy95
Returning Member

ROTH IRA excess contribution

Here is what I did:

 

Roth IRA Contributions: I entered $7,000 for total Roth IRA contributions for 2024. Under ‘Contributions Withdrawn Before the Due Date’ I entered the total withdrawals (excess contributions and earnings).

 

For 1099R: I entered the total withdrawals in box 1 and taxable earnings in box 2a. I selected distribution code P and J. No boxes were checked (except I have more than one value in box 7 for distribution code). Even after I selected P and J, TT stated “Based on the 1099-R Box 7 code that you entered, it looks like you may need to pay extra taxes on this distribution.” I selected 2025 for 1099R and none of these apply regarding substitute 1099R. I took your advice and I entered the earnings under ‘Corrective distributions’, now it is showing I don’t owe any extra tax but then I have to explain the return of contribution. TT stated “You told us you received a return of an IRA contribution before April 15, 2025. Explain here the details of the return of contribution.” I explained what happened and the excess and earnings were removed on September 12th. Is it okay even if it states “You told us you received a return of an IRA contribution before April 15, 2025” and I did the removal this month? If yes, I should be good to go, correct?

 

Thank you so much for your help.

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