Bug/text error for IRA excess contribution

[Condat]

For context, I over contributed $1,000 to my Roth and plan on paying the 6% penalty and have this extra contribution applied to 2024. To keep the math simple, let's say that my end of year balance is $500 for the year the over contribution was made.

1- When I enter the $1,000 contribution amount in the "deduction" section, TT comes back and states with an on-screen dynamic string of text that I have a penalty of 60$, ie $1,000*6%.

2- However, if I go back to 'explain my taxes => other taxes', I do not see a $60 penalty. Instead, I see $30, which implies that the 6% penalty is applied to the closing balance. ($500*6%). 

[Updating my own post]: I talked to an online specialist who indicated that the second approach is the correct one. I am leaving this here if others stumble upon the same issue in TT or hear differently.

[DanaB27 · Accepted solution]

Yes number 2 is correct in your case since you balance was smaller than the excess contribution.

The 6% penalty is calculated by using the smaller of the excess contribution or the value of your Roth IRAs on December 31, 2023 (including 2023 contributions made in 2024). See Form 5329 line 25.

[Condat]

Thank you so much for the additional details.