@prtaylor56 - The quote:
"More than one distribution. If you (or
your spouse if filing jointly) received
more than one distribution, figure the
taxable amount of each distribution and
enter the total of the taxable amounts on
line 4b. Enter the total amount of those
distributions on line 4a."
Is on page 29 of the instructions under the *IRA Distributions* section and applies to multiple IRA distributions, not a mix of IRA's and other types of retirement plans that comes later on page 30.
Keep reading the "Fully Taxable Pensions and Annuities" section that comes next on page 30 after the IRA section.
"If your pension or annuity is
fully taxable, enter the total pension or
annuity payments (from Form(s)
1099-R, box 1) on line 4b; don’t make
an entry on line 4a."
Thus a both fully taxable IRA's and pensions, 401(k)'s can have nothing on line 4a or some on 4a if not fully taxable.
The instructions for IRA's don't apply to pensions and annuities, and the pensions and annuities don't apply to IRA's.
(Pension and annuity payments include distributions from 401(k), 403(b), and governmental 457(b) plans. Rollovers and lump-sum distributions.)
This appears to be how TurboTax is interpreting the poorly written IRS instructions. Treating IRA's and other types independently and then added them together. The results look absurd but seem to comply with the instructions.
**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**
