How to include form 8606 in an amended return

[cjwils]

I already filed for 2020, but I think I need an amendment. I no longer contribute to an IRA, but I take an RMD from a standard IRA, which has a previously taxed basis. For 2019 I did the work to tabulate the previously taxed basis and I filed form 8606 for 2019 showing the previously taxed basis. When I did my taxes for 2020, I assumed that Turbotax would carry forward the data on form 8606 in order to continue tracking the previously taxed basis of my IRA; however, Turbotax did not carry that forward. I filed for 2020 without noticing that form 8606 was missing. This makes only a small difference for one year, but the previously taxed basis is supposed to be adjusted each year and carried forward year after year. I am not happy that Turbotax did not carry this forward from the previous year. Now I want to file an amendment but I cannot see how to add 8606 to an amended return and make it pick up the data from last year.  Please help. Thank you.

[MarilynG1]

We'll automatically generate and fill out Form 8606 (Nondeductible IRAs) if you reported any of these on your tax return:

• Nondeductible contributions made to a traditional IRA
• Distributions from a traditional, SEP or SIMPLE IRA that had nondeductible contributions (excluding rollovers, conversions, recharacterizations, qualified charitable distributions, one-time distribution to fund an HSA, or return of certain contributions)
• Conversions from a traditional, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA to a Roth IRA
• Distributions from a Roth IRA (other than rollovers, recharacterizations, or a return of certain contributions)

Click this link for more info on How to Trigger Form 8606. 

[cjwils]

The second bullet in MarilynG1's reply seems to include my situation (the terminology is different, and that is confusing). So why didn't Turbotax carry forward the data from form 8606 that I entered the prior year? It should be obvious to Turbotax that a person who is tracking a basis for an IRA needs to have that carried forward, but it did not happen for me.

Also, I am confused about why form 1040 X did not come up when I told Tutbotax that I wanted to do an amendment. I ended up printing out forms 1040X and 8606 from other sources and sending them to the IRS by snail mail. 

[AmyC]

The data is only triggered to change if an event happens. If you did not have an event that changed the basis amounts, it would not be needed since not updated.

If you did change things, the form should have popped up and been ready for review.

You also had 1040x issues. I am sorry, your situation is certainly not the norm and not what we want our customers to experience.

[cjwils]

When you are tracking a previously taxed basis and you showed that the year before,  and you are taking a required minimum distribution, and your IRA amount changes as the market changes, your basis will definitely change from year to year.  These are events that should have triggered Turbotax to carry forward the data from my form 8606 from the year before.

[fanfare]

did you make an track non-deductible contributions in this IRA ?

That is the question that turboTax asks and YES will add the form 8606 if you entered a 1099-R.

You must have missed the question.