Issues in Backdoor Roth reporting even when following the steps in TurboTax guide

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
March 25, 2026
1 reply
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Hello all,

I am following this guide from TurboTax to enter my backdoor Roth IRA conversion information. I am using Turbo Tax Home and Business Desktop version. For importing my 1099-Rs I imported it directly from the bank (through the connector TT provides).

I followed the complete steps defined in the guide. But I am still seeing the total amount in line 4b and 4a of my 1040. It should be zero in my case for 4b because I have moved entire money to Roth IRA account.

I observed one thing in my 1099-R can that be the issue? I was that box 2a (Taxable Amount) shows the entire amount filed in it. And also in box 2b the following box is checked (Taxable amount not determined box is checked). Should I manually bring box 2a to zero?

Or the issue is somewhere how my Traditional IRA entries are made? I have followed what's said in the guide. But I didn't see any screen with "Deductible contributions elected non-deductible box" (as mentioned in the point 6 of step 1 of the Instructions for the TurboTax Desktop in the guide.)

For context after I select "Traditional IRA" box in the Deduction and Credits --> Traditional and Roth IRA Contributions and hit continue I see the next screens in the following order:
1. "Is this a repayment of a retirement distribution you received?" I entered "No".
2. Then I saw the screen with "Enter the total amount of contributions you put into a traditional IRA for 2025, even if you later transferred some or all of it to a Roth IRA." --> I entered my amount. No check box here.
3. Then I saw "Enter amount switched from traditional IRA contribution to Roth IRA contribution. ". I entered the full amount. As I converted the full amount.
4. Then I saw this "Enter your recharacterization information." --> I entered the dates which were all in the calendar year 2025. And I entered the full amount.
4. Then I saw this "Did you contribute more money to this IRA than was allowed in 2024 or any previous year?". --> I selected "No". Because all my previous money has been recharacterized to Roth.
5. Then I saw this: "Did you have any nondeductible IRA contributions to your traditional IRA from 2024 or prior years? Nondeductible contributions are tracked on Form 8606 in your prior year returns." --> I entered "No" here.

1099

baldietax

Level 12

H&B version may have slightly different questions to the guide, so don't get stuck on any nuances, the general approach of 2 parts (the contribution and the 1099-R conversion) is the same, follow the on-screen questions.

your 1099-R should be entered as-is with 2a the full amount and taxable amount not determined checked, should have distribution code 2 and IRA/SEP/SIMPLE box checked. Make sure after the 1099-R entry or summary screen there are questions about the distribution and you need to answer here that you did a Roth conversion for the full amount (not a rollover or recharacterization).

I see issue with your IRA questions listed below #3 and #4, "amount switched from traditional IRA contribution to Roth IRA contribution" etc should not be answered, this is for recharacterizations which you did not do, you did a conversion. Just answer the Trad IRA section as though the only thing you did was a non-deductible contribution to your Traditional IRA and nothing to do with moving it to Roth. The Roth conversion part is triggered by the 1099-R section.

Try checking these things and see if you get the right outcome. Review your Form 8606 which brings together the contribution and conversion to determine the taxable amount on 1040 Line 4b.