Retirement tax questions

Let's be clear what we are talking about, because there are two kinds of things that might be happening.

 

Most workplace plans are "qualified plans".  They have a designation from the IRS regulations like 401(k), 403(B), 457(a), and a few others, and can be pre-tax or after tax ("Roth" accounts).  They are NOT IRAs and you do not enter them as if they were an IRA.   You can only contribute via payroll deduction and are not allowed to make separate contributions.  Your employer can also contribute.   The limit for the employee share is $23,500 and the limit for the combined employee and employer share is $69,000.  Qualified plan contributions are only reported on your W-2 using code letters in box 12, and Turbotax will understand them based on the code letter.   You do not report them separately. 

 

There is also something called a "payroll deduction IRA."  This is an option where the employer can allow employees to contribute to an IRA by payroll deduction.  This is not a qualified plan -- it is a real IRA, and it is owned by the employee, not sponsored by the employer.  With a payroll deduction IRA, you the employee own the IRA.  You can make additional contributions if you want.  Your employer can NOT contribute any funds.  The contribution limit for 2025 and 2026 is $7000 (or $8000 if over age 50).  It can be a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA.  The idea of a payroll deduction IRA is to help employees save without having to do all the paperwork of setting up a qualified plan.

 

If you have a payroll deduction IRA, it will NOT be reported on your W-2, and you must enter all information related to IRA contributions from your own records.  The IRA will report contributions using form 5498, but that is not usually released until May.  You will have to file your return and report contributions from your own records.  Whether it is a tax-deductible or non-deductible IRA contribution depends on your other facts and situations.  

https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-sponsor/payroll-deduction-ira