"I was then asked the taxable amount from the 1099-R was the same in previous years."
I don't think that that is what TurboTax asks. I believe that TurboTax asks if the box 2a amount represented the correct taxable amount in previous years. Answer that the previous Form(s) 1099-R did show the correct taxable amount so that TurboTax will not send you inappropriately into the Simplified Method or General Rule questions.
Many people get confused by this line of questions in TurboTax and then end up with a letter from the IRS indicating that they underreported income when they inappropriately used the Simplified Method to incorrectly determine that less than the full amount was taxable.
