IRA

[mdseymour249]

I contributed to a Traditional IRA in April 2019 for 2020 but when I enter the amount in Turbo Tax I am told that I am too old to contribute. I turned 70 1/2 in August 2019 but the IRA was opened before that date. Is the amount I contributed disallowed?

[DawnC · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately, yes.  The date you opened the account matters not here.  

For 2019, if you’re 70 ½ or older, you can't make a regular contribution to a traditional IRA. However, you can still contribute to a Roth IRA and make rollover contributions to a Roth or traditional IRA regardless of your age.

For 2020 and later, there is no age limit on making regular contributions to traditional or Roth IRAs.

An excess IRA contribution occurs if you:

• Contribute more than the contribution limit.
• Make a regular IRA contribution for 2019, or earlier, to a traditional IRA at age 70½ or older.
• Make an improper rollover contribution to an IRA.

Excess contributions are taxed at 6% per year as long as the excess amounts remain in the IRA. The tax can't be more than 6% of the combined value of all your IRAs as of the end of the tax year.  To avoid the excess contributions tax:

• withdraw the excess contributions from your IRA by the due date of your individual income tax return (including extensions); and
• withdraw any income earned on the excess contribution.

See Publication 590-A for certain conditions that may allow you to avoid including withdrawals of excess contributions in your gross income.