contributions to a schedule C self-employed 401k were too much; how do we settle this?

[cathypaul14]

My wife contributed about $3000 too much to her self-employed 401k for 2022, since her income ended up being lower than estimated and the calculated max was lower than expected. Does she need to remove the excess? or can she just switch the excess to a 2023 contribution? any idea how to do that?

[DanaB27]

Yes, she has the remove the excess deferral (plus any earnings) to the 401(k).

Please be aware, if you do not take out the excess amount by April 15th, then you are taxed twice on the excess deferral left in the plan.  This happens once when you contribute it (with the steps below) and again when you receive it as a distribution. You can't include the excess amount in the cost of the contract even though you included it in your income.

Please follow the steps below to add the excess deferral to your income:

1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
2. Click "Wages & Income" (under Federal) on the left side of your screen
3. Scroll  down to "Less Common Income" and click "Show More"
4. Scroll down to "Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C" and click "Start"
5. Select "Other income not already reported on a Form W-2 or Form 1099" and click "Start"
6. On the "Did you receive any other wages?" screen answer "Yes" and click "Continue"
7. Continue until you get to the "Any other earned income" screen, answer "Yes" and click "Continue"
8. On the "Enter Source of Other Earned income" screen select "Other" and click "Continue"
9. On the "Any Other Earned Income" screen enter "2022 Excess 401(k) Deferrals" for the description, enter the amount and click "Done".

If you receive the distribution of the excess deferral and earnings by April 15th then please note for the Tax Year 2023 tax filing due April 15, 2024: 

2023 Forms 1099-R will be issued reporting the excess.

• Form 1099-R with code P in box 7 can be ignored if you reported the excess as described above in 2022. 
• However, the earnings on Form 1099-R with Code 8 in box 7 should be reported in 2023.

Please see Pub 525 for additional information.