Correct values for IRA contribution amounts after overcontribution and recharacterization?

Question

I overcontributed to my ROTH IRA by $750 and have recharacterized it. Prior to this, I did not have a traditional IRA. Going through FreeTaxUSA to file my taxes, it is continually warning me that I've overcontributed. The only way to get rid of the warning is to answer $0 for my traditional IRA contributions. I want to make sure that I'm putting the right values.

What do I answer for the following questions?

Enter any traditional IRA contributions you made during 2025: Should this be $0 or $750?

Enter any Roth IRA contributions you made during 2025: $7000?

kiarab · Answer

Hello heywhatsup,

If you contributed 7,000 (between your Roth IRA contributions and your Traditional IRA contributions), then in our software will want to enter the amount for each type of IRA, like this:

Traditional IRA contributions: 6,250

Roth IRA contributions: 750

You will want to mark that you recharacterized some of your contributions on that same page. The next page should ask you what contributions your recharacterized. You will want to indicate that you recharacterized your Roth IRA contributions. Some space will provided for you to enter information about the contribution and when you recharacterized it.

That should report your recharacterization correctly. If you are still having problems, you may want to contact customer support. There may be something that has been missed on your return.

Te_ariki · Answer

@heywhatsup I realize that you think it's $7000 for each IRA but that's incorrect. It can't be more than $7000 for all of your traditional and Roth IRA's. Look at the third bullet point on this IRS site for IRA's.

https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-ira-contribution-limits

heywhatsup · Answer

https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/comment/8000#Comment_8000

Hi, so I overcontributed to my Roth only. Prior to the recharacterization, I had not contributed to Traditional at all - so to rephrase, between my Roth and Traditional IRAs, I contributed a total of $7000. What value should I be putting for my Traditional and Roth contributions? Should it be the values prior to the recharacterization?

I think my confusion stems from how the software works since after inputting these values, it asks for how much was recharacterized.

Also, am I able to submit my taxes prior to my brokerage recharacterizing my contributions? I'm assuming not?

Thanks!