How Do I Correct an Excess Contribution? If you make a contribution in excess of your allowable maximum, you may correct the excess contribution and avoid the 6% penalty tax for that year by withdrawing the excess contribution and its earnings on or before the date, including extensions, for filing your tax return for the tax year for which the contribution was made (generally October 15th). Any earnings on the withdrawn excess contribution may also be subject to the 10% early distribution penalty tax if you are under age 59½. In addition, although you will still owe penalty taxes for one or more years, excess contributions may be withdrawn after the time for filing your tax return. Excess contributions for one year may be carried forward and applied against the contribution limitation in succeeding years. An individual who is partially or entirely ineligible to make contributions to a Xxxx XXX may transfer amounts of up to the yearly contribution limits to a non-deductible Traditional IRA (subject to reduction for amounts remaining in the Xxxx XXX plus other Traditional IRA contributions).