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May 8, 2021
Question

Non-Deductible Contribution to Rollover IRA in Error

  • May 8, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

In March 2021, I made a post-tax contribution for 2020 to my Rollover IRA (which I never intend to rollover), thinking it would be deductible based on pre-filing calculations. Subsequently, I learned that it was ineligible for deduction due to my AGI. Upon learning that the contribution was ineligible, I requested the contribution be moved to a new Roth IRA, which it was, along with an allocated gain. FYI, I'm over 60 y.o.

What else should I do to make my contribution not taxed again?

What questions in TurboTax do I need to answer since this contribution was in error?

Does TurboTax complete a form to show the erroneous contribution?

    1 reply

    macuser_22
    Employee
    May 9, 2021

    Are you sure that your MGI is not also too high to make a Roth contribution at all?     Usually a MAGI that is to high to deduct a Traditional IRA is also too high to even make a Roth contribution and it would be an excess contribution subject to penalty if not removed before the due date of the tax return (or extended due date if an extension is filed).

     

    See this IRS article for Roth contribution limits for yiur filing status:

    https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/roth-iras

     

    What you did would be a recharactorization.     You won't receive a 1099-R  with a code R in box 7 reporting that until 2022, but it will need to be reported on an amended 2020 tax return.   

     

    A 2021 1099-R with a code R in box 7 (Recharacterized IRA contribution made for 2020 and recharactorized in 2021) will tell you that you must amend 2020 but it can be reported without amending if  you have the information.

    A code R 1099-R does nothing whatsoever if entered into the 1099-R section of an amended 2020 return. It does not get sent to the IRS and nothing goes on the tax return at all. The only purpose of the 1099-R is to report the recharacterization to the IRS, but it still must be reported on your 2020 tax return.

    The box 1 on the 1099-R will report the total recharacterized amount (contribution plus earnings) but it does not separately report the earnings and box 2a must be zero.

    The proper way to report the recharacterization and earnings which is to enter the 2020 IRA contribution in the IRA contribution interview section and then say yes to "Did you switch from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA - recharacterize".

    The amount The amount of the original Roth contribution must be entered - not any earnings or losses.

    Then TurboTax will ask for an explanation statement where it should be stated that the original $xxx.xx plus $xxx.xx earnings (or loss) were recharactorized.

    There is no tax or penalty on the before-tax earnings since the earning were simply switched into the recharactorized account.

    That is the only way to prepare and attach the proper explanation statement for a code R 1099-R.

    Enter IRA contributions here:
    Federal Taxes,
    Deductions & Credits,
    I’ll choose what I work on (if that screen comes up),
    Retirement & Investments,
    Traditional & Roth IRA contribution.

    OR Use the "Tools" menu (if online version under My Account) and then "Search Topics" for "ira contributions" which will take you to the same place.

    **Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**