How do you know if you are subject to a penalty if you over contributed your SEP

[hbl3973 · Accepted solution]

The details of the tax treatment of excess SEP contributions are give in IRS Publication 560:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p560.pdf

Whether or not there is a penalty depends upon the type of plan, whether or not you are self-employed, and timing of withdrawals.

[pcwill]

This didn't answer my question.  This directed me to if I were to do an early withdrawal.  Turbo Tax says that "I might be subject to a penalty because I over contributed to my SEP".  How do I know if I was or not?

[hbl3973]

Again,  I do not know your specific situation and your description is unclear to me.  But first check page 16 of that publication about whether the 10% excise tax applies.  We do know from page 17 that if you withdraw the excess contribution plus any of its earnings on or before April 15th, you won't be subject to an excess contribution penalty.