For the past 14 years I received an RMD distribution for a small non-spousal Beneficiary IRA from my deceased parents. This distribution is reflected annually on a 1099-R. As usual, my current 1099-R Box 16 is blank, with Boxes 1, 2a, 2b, 4, 7, 14, 15 being filled. This is the identical scenario I have had since I received my first RMD distribution, and I have always filed my tax return using TT without problem. This year though, TT will not let me proceed past the blank Box 16 as it has always done before. It instead gives an error message stating that if Box 14 has a figure, then Box 16 must also have a figure that is greater than Box 14. First time ever! And it won't let me continue! I am in Ohio (in case that matters.)
So far, the most common advice I see here in TT Community is to populate Box 16 with zero, or the data from Box 1 or 2a, but I am extremely uncomfortable with this since it is not reported that way on my official 1099-R.
To investigate deeper into the problem, I reviewed my TT filings for several previous years, and can see that the record keeping documentation produced at the end of filing includes a "Schedule of Ohio Withholding" which doesn't even have a Box 16 at all. I went to the Ohio website and found the form was the same there.
Also, of special note, for each year I've filed, the TT documentation shows that the 1099-R produced for record keeping has Box 16 filled in as $0.00 (and if I actually go into the old TT programs themselves, and navigate to the 1099-R input section with the blank entry, and then switch to forms view, I see the same $0.00 there (which apparently resulted from my leaving Box 16 blank all these years.) So even if I were take the advice of previous Community helpers to ignore the blank and plug in a number, TT still wouldn't let me use zero in Box 16 (which would at least have been in line with the record keeping documentation of previous years) and using the Box 1 or 2a number in Box 16 seems even further from correct.
Does anyone have any thoughts about how I should proceed?
It should be the same in prior years. If you have an amount for withholding in box 14 you need to enter the same amount as box 2a in box 16. If box 14 is blank you can leave boxes 14,15 & 16 blank.
Thank you for your reply. My prior 14 years of 1099-R’s are indeed the same as my current (2024) 1099-R with Box 14 showing the State Withholding figure and Box 16 still blank. Only thing different from prior years is that TT isn’t allowing me to enter that data that way this year.
Of note, I reviewed the TT documentation from my previous years TT filings and can see that in all prior years TT construed the blank input for Box 16 as $0.00 (zero).
I live in Indiana and am having the same issue. TT won't let me go any further from box 16 and won't take $0.00.
I too have never had this issue before.
There is a current investigation For updates subscribe here: https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-r/un[product key removed]-distributions-1099-r/L3mz2ncdS_US_en_US
Thank you for the reply! Unfortunately, the link you provided gives the following error:
XML Parsing Error: no root element found
Location: https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-r/unable-enter-state-distributions-1099-r/L3mz2ncdS_US_en_US
Line Number 1, Column 1:
If you could re-post the link, I'd like to look it up and see if it might be of help to me. Earlier, I did find a known issue TT was working on re:1099-R, with a sign up for updates. It's not quite the same as my scenario, it's for Users that have a version of TT where (ironically almost opposite of my problem) they do have a figure in Box 16 of their 1099-R, but cannot enter anything because Box 16 is missing from their TT product. I signed up for it in case my issue might also be cleared by their fix, which they indicated would be within 7 days, but it's been two weeks, and there have been two updates (including one specifically for Ohio) but my problem persists.
I have a Charles Schwab 1099-r that also has block 16 blank with values in block 14, I am in Ohio. This is obviously a bug in the Turbo Tax program that needs fixed pronto!! I cannot file my taxes because of this issue.
If box 14 has an amount and box 16 is blank put in the amount from box 2a in box 16. If box 2a is blank, and you haven't made after-tax contributions to the account, you can use the amount in box 1.
agreed. Turbo Tax needs to get this edit fixed allowing box 16 to be blank!
Looks like they removed the link I am looking for another one for this issue.
I was able to use the link If not search "turbotax Why am I unable to enter my state distributions in my 1099-R?" This is a post that you can keep updated when this issue is resolved.
I am also in Indiana and having the same issue. Always allowed in the past. How are we to proceed? I do not like the option of 'just put in amount from 1 or 2a. I always left it $0.00 in the past.
Here is an official Turbo Tax FAQ. It's for Louisiana but will be the same for any state.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-r/fix-louisiana-1099-r-without-number-line-16-still/L9slcfwY5_US_en_US?uid=m79vzk0q
Thanks griffdr77, but that sign up page is closed now (says that the issue was fixed) but the problem I am having is still happening. Appreciate your efforts everyone but I still need help.
It looks like volvogirl, on page 1, has an answer from Intuit. I most likely will file with this fix. If questioned later, I can reference Intuit"s answer. I live in OH and my military retirement pay is not taxed, and implementing the fix did not affect the state tax. Of note, there is no box 16 on my military 1099-R.
I am in Ohio and having the same issue. My box 16 is empty on my 1099-R. TT wouldn’t let me continue without putting a number in the box. I worked around it to proceed and left the box blank. But, TT won’t allow me to efile without something in that box. TT needs to fix this. I’m not going to put in some other number when the box on my 1099-R is blank.
mimiyo
If your only state is Ohio, then normally the pension administrator would have put the Box 1 amount also in box 16.
In fact, since boxes 15 through 20 are used for states, the IRS does not look at those boxes...but some states do. In cases where there is only one state, the box 16 amount really is normally the same as box 1.
So you are safe in doing this.
I agree, TT needs to fix THEIR program. I did pay for the program!
My scenario is the same. I see you posted in early February and it's now early March, so I see TT isn't in any hurry to fix this. I wanted to mention that I actually started my taxes this year with the free on-line, and that version allowed me to enter zero in box 16. Clearly it should allow the field to remain blank. I'm hoping they realize that they aren't the only tax product on the market. Like you, I am a long time user of TT, but if this is their level of service in fixing critical issues such as this we'll have no choice but to move elsewhere. Obviously we have a deadline to submit our taxes and we can't wait forever for them to correct such a seeming simple, yet critical error.
UPDATE: Since it's already been a month with no fix from TT, I went to the Best Buy site and found the H&R Block Deluxe + State on sale for $29.99 (Reg $59.99). It includes 5 Fed efiles and unlimited prep and print. Just like TT you have to pay for state efiles. They have great reviews and one reviewer said they have weekly updates. Also, almost every review on the best buy site has a response from H&R. I may go ahead and pull the trigger since it's such a great buy and TT doesn't seem to be responsive to this issue. I just don't want to wait until the last minute to file.
It's not just TT. I'm in Oregon using a different program and it too has the same issue and I am stumped.
If you enter an amount of 24 cents, that might make TurboTax happy and the amount is rounded down to Zero.