Do I need to enter my Roth 403(b) contributions in income AND deductions?

[lewispb]

I've already entered my Roth deferral from my W-2 (under BB—Designated Roth contributions under a section 403(b) plan). Do I need to also enter those contributions in the "Traditional IRA and Roth IRA" deductions section?

[MargaretL · Accepted solution]

No - you don't need to enter the 403(b) contribution in the Deductions & Credits. In fact, you are not allowed to do so... All you have to do is report W-2 data in Turbo Tax exactly as it appears on the form.

The 403(b) plan contributions you elect to make come directly out of your salary. Since the contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, your employer does not include these amounts in your taxable income for the year.  Since the contributions are not counted in your taxable income to begin with, you do not take a deduction when you file your return; that would be double dipping.

[amfair02]

But since it's a Roth 403b and not a standard, it is post-tax... does that change anything?

[macuser_22]

@amfair02 - No.   A 403(b) Roth is reported by your employer on your W-2 in box 12 with a code "BB".   You do not reported it any other way.

[pastordaylo]

Our church is using the TurboTax Home Business edition to fill out form W-2.  I have both traditional 403(b) and Roth 403(b) amounts to enter, but the only code that appears for box 12 is "E" for 403(b) contributions.  It seems there is another code (BB) for the Roth 403(b).  How can we correctly report the Roth 403(b), if the program doesn't include that code option?

[macuser_22]

A code E is a Traditional 403(b) plan, not a 403(b) Roth.    You need to talk with the W-2 issuer for a corrected W-2 of they failed to report both.

[pastordaylo]

Hey, macuser_22. Thanks for the reply.  I'm helping our treasurer to fill out the Form W-2, so we are "the issuer."  We know both amounts (the pre-tax 403(b) and the Roth 403(b)) need to reported, but as stated previously, the Turbo Tax program (Home Business 2018) does not even have a code "BB" to report the Roth 403(b).  It only shows code "E" for the pre-tax.  And yes, we checked the "show more options" tab, which didn't have code "BB," either.  I'm wondering if we should just list the total for both funds under code E, and then specify each code, description, and amount in Box 14.  I would have thought that Turbo Tax would have made this easier.  Am I missing something?

[macuser_22]

You can only issue W-2's with Quick Employer Forms which I know nothing about - sorry I can't help there.

[pastordaylo]

Thanks anyway 😉

[tko54321]

Capital gains (re-invested dividends, etc.) inside a Roth IRA must be reported as tax-exempt interest on a tax return.* Does that mean the capital gains inside a Roth 403b or Roth 401k must also be reported as tax-exempt interest?

*It's reported to the IRS for informational reasons and used to calculate MAGI.

[dmertz]

tko54321, your statement regarding Roth IRAs is incorrect, or at least badly phrased.  Earnings that remain inside a Roth account of any type, including a Roth IRA, are not reportable on your individual income tax return.  Only distributions from retirement accounts are reportable on your individual income tax return, with only the taxable amount adding to AGI.  This is true for all types of retirement accounts.

[VolvoGirl]

@tko54321   What?  No you do not report any earnings, Dividends, Interest, Buys or Sells inside ROTH IRA or Traditional IRA accounts.  You only report distributions, withdraws, rollovers and conversions.   You only report 1099R forms you get.  Why do you say Earnings must be reported as tax-exempt income?