How to report Pro-rata for backdoor ROTH (Form 8606 doesn't populate box 6)

[HikingTaxGuy]

I did a backdoor ROTH IRA conversion in 2025 of $7k with non-deductible money. I also have an old pre-tax traditional IRA with about $5k. This should trigger the pro-rata rule in form 8606. However TurboTax doesn't seem to be populating it correctly. 

I go through all the steps in TurboTax (both Online and Desktop) including entering the total value on December 31, 2025 of all traditional IRAs. (Usually for ROTH conversion this should be 0 but I have a value) Basis is 0 because this is the first time I am doing the conversion to ROTH.

However, form 8606 is blank in TurboTax for box 6 ("Enter the value of all your traditional IRAs") but I do have a value as noted above. Furthermore, all of boxes 1-15 are empty which I would assume would have a value. On form 8606, it enters $7k box 16 and box 18 (taxable amount).

Is the fact that its all taxable accounting for this? Or why isnt it filling out boxes 1-15? Dont know how to get TurboTax to input these boxes.

[AnnetteB6]

Entering a backdoor Roth IRA conversion typically consists of two steps -- making the non-deductible contribution to the Traditional IRA and taking the distribution from that IRA to convert it to a Roth IRA.  Sometimes these two steps take place in the same tax year and are reported on the tax return for that year, but sometimes the steps span two different tax years.  

If you made the non-deductible contribution to your Traditional IRA in 2025, be sure that you have entered that information in your return.  This should trigger the completion of Form 8606 Part I.  If you made that contribution in a prior year (2024 or earlier), then the $7000 should be included in the basis of the Traditional IRA and it should have been reported on Form 8606 for the year the contribution was made.

For reference, take a look at the following TurboTax help article to see the steps for entering a backdoor Roth IRA conversion in TurboTax and what to do if the non-deductible contribution was made in 2024, but not reported on your return.

How do I enter a backdoor Roth IRA conversion?
 

[HikingTaxGuy]

Yes I did both steps. This doesn't answer my question at all though. I'm trying to enter into TurboTax and get it to generate form 8606 correctly.

[DanaB27]

It would be helpful to have a TurboTax ".tax2025" file that is experiencing this issue. You can send us a “diagnostic” file that has your “numbers” but not your personal information. If you would like to do this, here are the instructions for TurboTax Online: 

1. From the left menu select Tax Tools. 
2. Then select Tools below Tax Tools. 
3. A window will pop up which says Tools Center.  
4. On this screen, select Share my file with Agent. 
5. You will see a message explaining what the diagnostic copy is. Click okay through this screen and then you will get a Token number. 
6. Reply to this thread with your Token number and add @DanaB27 . This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.  

The instructions for TurboTax Download: 

1. On your menu bar at the very top, click "Online"
2. Select "Send Tax File to Agent"  
3. Click "Send"
4. The pop-up will have a token number
5. Reply to this thread with your Token number and add @DanaB27 . This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.  

We will then be able to see exactly what you are seeing and we can determine what exactly is going on in your return and provide you with a resolution.

[mcintyre210]

Did you ever figure this out?  I have to amend 4 previous tax returns due to TT missing the pro rata rules for my SIMPLE year end balances in combination with back door roths.  We just found out about this and TurboTax does not seem to work with this scenario.  I have tried all the "work arounds" including force overriding lines 5-18 on Form 8606 (which is possible, however, it's not putting the new taxable amount from line 18 onto Line 4b on the 1040 to increase my tax liability).  So, in trying to force override line 4b on the 1040 to complete my amendment, TT says it doesn't allow this and that it must come from the Form 8606.  Its literally the last step I need to take to amend my return and pay the tax owed.   :(

[DanaB27]

To clarify, do you have a star symbol next to line 13 and 18 of Form 8606? If yes, then TurboTax is using the Taxable IRA Distribution Worksheet per Pub. 590-B to calculate the amounts and lines 6 to 12 of Form 8606 will be blank. It will be listed as "Tax IRA Dist" in the Form list.

Generally, TurboTax will asked about your value of all of your traditional IRA, SEP, and SIMPLE IRA accounts on December 31 after you have entered all Form 1099-R and click continue.

If this doesn't solve your problem then It would be helpful to have a TurboTax file that is experiencing this issue. You can send us a “diagnostic” file that has your “numbers” but not your personal information. If you would like to do this, here are the instructions  for TurboTax Download/Desktop: 

1. On your menu bar at the very top, click "Online"
2. Select "Send Tax File to Agent"  
3. Click "Send"
4. The pop-up will have a token number
5. Reply to this thread with your Token number, the tax year, and add @DanaB27 . This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.  

We will then be able to see exactly what you are seeing and we can determine what exactly is going on in your return and provide you with a resolution.

@mcintyre210 

[crkumar77]

Hello, Are you able to resolve this? I am facing with similar issue

[mcintyre210]

@crkumar77 

Hello!  I was able to resolve this issue, but it took an entire weekend.  The key takeaways are to (1) report the backdoor Roth correctly (Enter the Traditional IRA and say "no" to did you recharacterize this or change your mind or something like that - this is where I got hung up a few times)  Then enter your 1099-R to do the other side of the backdoor Roth and report the conversion - that will zero out the non taxable allowed event. 

Then, (2) answer the follow up questions in the wizard where it says "Enter the total value of all traditional IRA, SEP and SIMPLE balances as of 12/31.  You also need to answer the question if you had Basis from previous years, if so enter that number as well.   Then the Form 8606 will populate correctly and calculate Pro Rata tax owed.  It does some things in the background and will not have numbers in lines 6-12 BUT it will calculate as if there were numbers there, and have a number on lines 13,14,16,17 & 18 (taxable amount that lands on Line 4b of 1040).

This has been one of the most challenging parts of Turbotax I've done and I did pay a CPA to check my work.  With that said, I amended 4 year's worth of Form 8606's by hand before I got TT pro rata to work correctly for TY 2025. 

I got rid of my SIMPLE (rolled into a solo 401K) so I NEVER have to pay pro rata and report it ever again.  The only thing is I will have a rolling basis on Form 8606 going forward but no more added tax there.

My CPA said she had several people getting tangled up in pro rata!  This is a problem when investors don't advise properly on the backdoor Roth and implications of it.

Hope that helps

[baldietax]

@crkumar77 what issue specifically are you having... did you follow the instructions for entering backdoor Roth.  it works fine if you follow the steps and on-screen interview questions carefully.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/retirement-benefits/enter-backdoor-roth-...

Common confusions:

* a lot of people confuse recharacterization with conversion.  when you enter the trad IRA contribution you do not answer anything to do with moving money to Roth, this section is purely the Trad IRA contribution step.  The conversion is a second step handled by entering the 1099-R.

* for a split year backdoor when you make the contribution before 4/15 for the previous tax year and do a conversion, only the contribution is reported for prior tax year.  the conversion is reported in the calendar year it is made, it is not backdated.  only report the conversion for the tax year when you get the 1099-R.

* After the 1099-R entry there are questions where you identify the distribution as a Roth conversion.  After the 1099-R summary you need to click "Done" or "Continue" there are more questions and this is where you provide the market value if your Trad IRA(s) as of year-end for the pro-rata calculation.

[mcintyre210]

@crkumar77 

Yes I was able to resolve this, but it took me all of a weekend to figure out.  TT does not make reporting for pro rata very easy until you understand a few things.  I had replied earlier but my reply is gone.  I see someone else has answered your question, but I will reiterate how I did mine:

1.  First step in the backdoor Roth is to enter the Traditional IRA.  Do not checkmark that you recharacterized it if the wizard asks.  This is NOT the same as a backdoor roth, which is called a conversion.  You will report the conversion later.

2.  Next, enter your 1099-R exactly as reported.  This is how TT captures the conversion.  If the wizard asks you can say this was a complete conversion from the Trad.  This step will empty the Trad to zero at 12/31.

3.  When asked for all 12/31 balances of any SEP, SIMPLE or other Trad IRA's, enter that dollar amount.  This moves the needed amounts over to Form 8606 for pro rata calcs.  If you had basis from the previous year, that will also be answered through the wizard.

4.  Check Form 8606 now - you should have pro rata numbers on lines 13, 14 (basis that will roll into the next year), 16,17 and 18.  The number on line 18 transfers to line 4b on the 1040 and is your taxable pro rata amount.

That's how I did it and it was verified correct by my CPA.

Hope that helps