This screen checks whether the taxable amount of your IRA distribution differs between California and your federal return. For the majority of California residents, there isn't a difference, but the ...
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This screen checks whether the taxable amount of your IRA distribution differs between California and your federal return. For the majority of California residents, there isn't a difference, but the software asks because California and the IRS haven't always had the same rules for IRA deductions.
If you are looking to find the "Greater Than" or "Less Than" figures:, you won't find these numbers on a specific tax form like a 1099-R. Instead, you have to look at your own history (or your tax software's "Carryover" worksheet). Before you go looking for these specific amounts, determine if you need to make this adjustment or not.
You only have a different "California" number if you meet one of the rare criteria below. If none of these apply to you, your California adjustment is $0. Check these three common scenarios. If these don't apply, you likely have no adjustment. Instead, California taxable amount will equal the Federal taxable amount.
The "Basis" Difference (Most Common): Did you make contributions to an IRA in the past that were not deductible on your California return, but were deductible on your Federal return? Example: Between 1982 and 1986, California had lower contribution limits than the IRS. If you contributed the max back then, you might have "California basis" that makes a small portion of your current distribution tax-free for CA.
Changing Residency: If you moved into or out of California while contributing to this IRA, the "basis" (the part you already paid taxes on) might be tracked differently between the state and the feds.
The "Pension Adjustment / Other Wage Adj" Worksheet: The software is likely referring to a worksheet used to calculate Schedule CA (540). If you see "Other Wage Adj," it's often a catch-all for:
Paid Family Leave (PFL): If this was included in your federal wages (Box 1 of W-2), California doesn't tax it.
Tier 1 Railroad Retirement: Federal taxes it; California does not.
To summarize, keep in mind the following.
If you have always lived in CA and always took the same IRA deductions on both returns, Enter $0 for the adjustment (or select "Same as Federal").
If you think you have a difference, You would need to look at FTB Publication 1005 (Pension and Annuity Guidelines) and use "Worksheet I" to calculate your "California Basis."