ThomasM125
Expert Alumni

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

You can't do a backdoor Roth IRA conversion if you don't have earned income. This is because the first step in the process is to make a non-deductible contribution to a traditional IRA, and you can't contribute to an IRA, deductible or non-deductible, unless you have earned income.

 

You can do a Roth IRA conversion without earned income, but that involves moving money that was contributed to a traditional IRA in years when you had earned income to a Roth IRA. It is not a backdoor IRA conversion though.

 

You need to withdraw the excess contribution you made before the due date of your 2024 tax return to avoid the penalty. You can report the earnings on your 2024 tax return or wait until you get the Form 1099-R in 2025 and amend your 2024 tax return to include the income earned on the money you withdrew. If you choose to include the income on your 2024 return, follow these steps to enter a substitute Form 1099-R:

 

To enter a substitute form 1099-R in Turbo Tax Desktop follow these instructions:

 

  1. Find the Retirement Plans and Social Security menu option in the Wages and Income section of TurboTax
  2. Start or Update IRA, 401(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R)
  3. Choose Add (Another) 1099-R
  4. Choose I'll type it in myself
  5. On the screen that says Tell Us Which 1099-R You Have choose I need to prepare a Substitute 1099-R

 

To enter a substitute form 1099-R in Turbo Tax Online follow these instructions:

 

  1. Find the Retirement Plans and Social Security menu option in the Wages and Income section of TurboTax
  2. Start or Update IRA, 401(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R)
  3. Choose Add (Another) 1099-R
  4. Choose I'll type it in myself
  5. Choose the source of your 1099-R form
  6. Enter your pension income into the Form 1099-R entry screens
  7. When you come to the screen that says Do any of these situations apply to you? Check the box that says I need to file a substitute 1099-R and follow the instructions

 

To enter a refund of excess IRA contributions received in 2025 for 2024 contributions on your 2024 return, follow these steps when you enter the substitute Form 1099-R:

 

  1. Enter the distribution amount in box 1 of the substitute 1099-R
  2. Enter the earnings in box 2(a)
  3. Enter code "8" and "T"  in box 7 

 

[Edited 2/3/25 at 3:36 PM PST]

@baldietax

 

 

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