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How should I address an accidental over-contribution to my retirement account (457 non-governmental) when my income fluctuates, and what steps should I take to avoid penalties?
How should I address an accidental over-contribution to my retirement account (457 non-governmental) when my income fluctuates, and what steps should I take to avoid penalties?
Robert James, 20+ years of experience in IRS matters
Answered on September 20,2023
Answered on September 20,2023
The additional taxes are pretty steep for an over contribution to a retirement account, so contact the financial institution and explain what happened. It's better to withdraw the excess contribution as soon as you can. If you don't, you actually owe excise taxes on that excess contribution every year you leave it in the retirement account.
You'll probably get a 1099-R just for the earnings portion, but the additional tax and penalties shouldn't be that much.
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