Retirement tax questions

Still not following. Too complicated to understand, and what is "basis"? I wish there was an easier way for a non tax professional to figure this out. I keep hearing Backdoor IRA which is described as (at least whatever I read), if you make more than the given income limits for Roth IRA, then put money in Trad IRA and convert that to Roth IRA the same year. And you can not take tax deduction on money you put in Trad. IRA. 

 

But doesn't look like that is true.