Skip to main content
April 2, 2025
Question

Self Employed traditional IRA problem

  • April 2, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

I'm entering my traditional IRA retirement contributions for myself and my wife (Married filing jointly). We are each allowed to contribute up to $8,000 each as both of us are above 50 years old. Yet when I enter the $8000 amount for each of us TurboTax says my wife has an excess contribution and must withdraw the excess or face a penalty. What gives? This does not make sense. We have enough income to qualify.

    1 reply

    April 2, 2025

    Your maximum contribution can be limited if you have a retirement plan at work, per this excerpt from an IRS article:

     

     

    Also, you have to have earned income to qualify, pension or investment income does not count.

    **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
    Mango NCAuthor
    April 2, 2025

    Thanks of the reply. However this does not solve the problem. 1-I'm self employed, there is no work retirement plan. 2- modified AGI will be less than $123,000.00. We are entitled to contribute $8,000 each, but the program isn't allowing it. It says we have to withdraw the excess or face a penalty. What excess???

    April 2, 2025

    If you'd like, we can look at your return and see exactly what you see to help come to a resolution. The return will be scrubbed and won't include any of your personal details.

     

    If you're using TurboTax Online:

    Once you're logged in to your account and have your amended return open,

    - on the left hand panel, click on Tax Tools and then choose Tools

    - on the pop up window, select Share my file with Agent

    - you'll see a message saying you'll give us a copy of your tax return. Your personal information will be changed so we can't see any private information.

    - click okay and you'll get another message with a token

     

    If you're using TurboTax Desktop:

    • Click on Online in the top menu of TurboTax Desktop for Windows
    • Select 'Send Tax File to Agent'
    • Write down or send an image of your token number and state then place in this issue.
    • We can then review your exact scenario for a solution

     

    Please reply to this message with your token so that we can further assist you. Let us know all other states that are included on the return.