(IF...if just a plain 1099-R form, and not a CSA- or CSF-1099-R, nor a RRB-10999-R )
The 2020 1099-R forms were renumbered for 2020.
Last year's boxes 12,13,14, are now numbered 14,15,16.
IF your 1099-R form is using 12,13,14...then either
a) it is a 2019 tax form, that shouldn't go in this year...or
b) the issuer failed to update their forms to the Proper 2020 format for those boxes.
for b) you need to call the issuer, and find out if they are going to correct their screw-up.
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IF numbered properly, box 16 is commonly empty on most 1099-R forms. Usually because the value of box 2a is automatically used in it's place (or the Federally-taxable amount of box 1 if box 2a is empty).
NY is especially picky about this, and entering the value of box 2a into box 16 should fix that (or the federally-taxable amount of box 1 if box 2a is empty).
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My Federal+NC software automatically back-fills box 16 with the value in box 2a, as I proceed to properly answer the pages that follow the main form...if I left box 16 empty the first time thru.
____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*
