@actieve
For NY, in box 16, you MUST include a state distribution amount...a non-zero value.....even if it is empty on your actual 1099-R form.
Then on the follow-up page similar to the picture I posted from a prior year, above, you select the NY state Retirement system that allows that $$ amount to be exempt. If you enter zero in box 16, or leave it blank, then nothing is excluded from NY taxation...the software only knows what to exclude based on the box 16 value !
What is the value that goes in there? If box 1 and 2a are the same $$ amount, then sue that value form box 1.
IF box 2a is a positive value (i.e. not zero and not blank) then I say that the value you use should be the box 2a value. Others say it should be the box 1 value, but I say you cannot exclude more than was originally taxed in the Federal forms....which would be box 2a, again, only if box 2a has a nonzero value in it. Usually if box 2a is lower than box 1, there is the difference noted in box 5.
(yep, it's possible I'm wrong about the box 1 vs box 2a....since I don't actually have the NY software loaded to double-check the details in exactly how it operates.
____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*
