Prior to last year, there was a taxable amount in box 2a. Last year they finally started taking out a court-ordered annuity for my ex-wife. Last year and this year the taxable amount in 2a says Unknown. Last year I left it like that. This year if I leave that empty my refund jumps up by 4000.00 dollars plus. If I put in the same amount that is in Box 1 there is no change to my refund of 4000.00 plus. I work for the Postal Service for 33 years. My payment comes from OPM. It states in numerous places that there is a Simplified Method for figuring out the amount that is taxable. There does not seem to be anything simple about it. I guess I don't understand why I have to figure out what amount is taxable. Thank you.
