In 2011, I accepted and worked at a job in December. Although I worked in Dec 2011, and have a paystub for the period I worked in 2011, I was not paid until January 2012. I had no other income in 2011, and nothing that would be eligible for an IRA contribution. I have no W-2 for 2011.

1. Elsewhere on this board, I read about "constructive receipt". I assumed (wrongly?) that since I had worked and earned income in 2011, I would be eligible to make an IRA contribution - even if my employer didnt pay me until after year-end. I am concerned that the contribution I made to a 2011 Roth IRA is ineligible due to the constructive receipt doctrine and the absence of a 2011 W-2 for the period worked. Can income earned in 2011 but not received until 2012 be used to fund a 2011 IRA? I could submit the paystub which shows the pay period in lieu of a W-2. When I entered my info into TTax, it suggested I could not (imposed a penalty for excess contributions).

2. If I can deem the income as 2011 income, how do I do it? Let's say the gross paystub was $5000, and the 2011 Roth IRA contribution was $4000. Can/do I put the $4000 or $5000 on the 2011 1040 wages line? If so, do I reduce the following year W-2 by the same amount, and submit an explanation that the reduced amount was previously reported on my 2011 return? If I dont do that, wouldnt the same income be taxed twice?

3. If the IRA contribution was indeed ineligible, what's the best way to unwind it? The 2011 return was filed with an extension to 10/17/12. Unfortuantely, before realizing the 2011 might have been ineligible, I just funded my 2012 and 2013 IRA contributions ($6000 each, >50 yrs old) at another firm about 3 weeks ago. Since I filed for a 2012 extension, could I reverse/withdraw the 2012 contribution and redesignate the 2011 to 2012 (I would not be eligible for a Roth for tax year 2012). Would the fact the 2012 IRA contribution was larger than 2011, and at a different firm, affect my ability to do this?

Thanks for the time and wonderful help you provide on this board - I only recently discovered this site.