My income is social security and dividends. The ObamaCare subsidy needs to be repaid (salary $4000 too much). Can I make an IRA contribution to reduce income.

[wxrbumo]

I am retired and have social security and dividernds  for income (no W2 or taxable wages).  I withdrew more than I should have from my IRA last year and the health care subsidy on my tax return needs to be repaid.  I want to know if I can make a contribution before April taxes (in 2018) to reduce my income.

[KittyM · Accepted solution]

No, you can only make an IRA contribution if you have "earned income" from wages or self-employment.

[Rainman12]

Further, Obamacare penalties are based on Modified AGI, so contribution (even if legal) won't help ...

[DaveNTx]

We got snagged on Obamacare premium paybacks the same way ...  I took a distribution from my IRA such that I would have little or no tax to pay but, the premium subsidy was then voided and the premium payback amount is added to my taxable income.   Now, we've got a big tax bill and - just to rub salt into the wound - a tax penalty for not withholding enough from the IRA distribution.    The whole thing is pretty insidious.