TurboTax is correct to treat the RRB-1099-R as an annuity, even though it might seem like a regular retirement payment. The reason for this—and the reason it’s triggering those "Simplified Method" qu...
See more...
TurboTax is correct to treat the RRB-1099-R as an annuity, even though it might seem like a regular retirement payment. The reason for this—and the reason it’s triggering those "Simplified Method" questions again—is based on how the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) splits your benefits:
1. The "Green Form" vs. The "Blue Form"
Form RRB-1099 (Blue): This is for your Social Security Equivalent Benefits (SSEB). These are treated like Social Security and are entered in the Social Security section of TurboTax.
Form RRB-1099-R (Green): This form covers your Tier 2 benefits, supplemental annuities, and vested dual benefits. By law, the IRS treats these as private pensions/annuities. This is why TurboTax is using "annuity" terminology.
2. The "Simplified Method" Trap (Again)
Just like with your wife's TRS pension, TurboTax sees a "pension/annuity" and immediately wants to know if you have a "cost" (after-tax contributions) to recover. Box 3 on your RRB-1099-R: This is the key. It shows your "Employee Contributions." This is the money you paid into the system that has already been taxed. You are allowed to get that Box 3 money back tax-free, spread out over your expected lifetime. This calculation is called the Simplified Method.
3. How to handle it in TurboTax
If you want to stop the "annuity" questions and just get the tax right:
Check Box 2a: If your RRB-1099-R already has a "Taxable Amount" listed in Box 2a, you can try to bypass the worksheets by telling the software that the taxable amount on the form is correct. If Box 2a is blank: You must go through the "annuity" questions. You will need:
The amount from Box 3 (your cost).
Your Annuity Start Date (the day you started receiving benefits).
Your age on that start date.
TurboTax will use the "Simplified Method" to subtract a small portion of your Box 3 "cost" from your income this year (and every year until it's used up), which actually lowers your tax bill.