Credit for retirement savings contribution - do I add in both my 401K AND my employee deduction to my retirement fund??

[bethdinsmore]

I am a county employee. The county 'forces' me (in other words, it's not a choice... they deduct my money from my paycheck) to contribute to a retirement fund every paycheck. In addition, I contribute to a 401K account with every paycheck. The amount deducted from my paycheck for the retirement fund AND the amount deducted from my paycheck for my 401K are both subtracted from my taxable wages on my W2. Box 12a only reflects the amount I voluntarily contribute to my 401K. When filling out the section on Credit For Retirement Savings Contribution the amount in box 12a (my 401K) is automatically shown BUT the amount from the retirement fund is NOT. When Turbo Tax asks if I made any additional contributions to my Retirement Savings, do I ADD IN the amount from my retirement contribution? It is money I'm contributing to a retirement account so it seems like I would add this to reflect all the money I'm doing without right now to save for retirement. Please help!

[Critter · Accepted solution]

The form 8880 caps the credit to $2000  so if the 401K is $2K or more adding in more contributions will do nothing for you. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8880.pdf

Include on line 2 any of the following amounts.

•  Elective deferrals to a 401(k) or 403(b) plan (including designated Roth contributions under section 402A), or to a governmental 457, SEP, or SIMPLE plan.
•  Voluntary employee contributions to a qualified retirement plan as defined in section 4974(c) (including the federal Thrift Savings Plan).
•  Contributions to a 501(c)(18)(D) plan.