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New Member
posted Jun 7, 2019 4:24:17 PM

I contributed a portion of my IRA RMD to a charity, how and where do you enter this in Turbo Tax so that the charity portion does not add to your adjusted gross income?

1 18 6076
18 Replies
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:24:17 PM

Just enter the 1099-R *exactly* as printed, and then pay attention to detail on the screens that will follow the data entry screen. I'm not sure, but I would expect your 1099-R to have a code "F" in box 7.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:24:21 PM
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:24:22 PM

The 1099-R will not have distribution code F. Code F is for income received from a charitable gift annuity, not from an IRA. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is not a charitable gift annuity.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:24:24 PM

@Carl - Code "F" (charitable gift annuity) is a special case and has nothing to do with a QCD that does not have any special code - a QCD is self-reported by the taxpayer, not the IRA trustee.

A charitable gift annuity involves a contract between a donor and a charity, whereby the donor transfers cash or property to the charity in exchange for a partial tax deduction and a lifetime stream of annual income from the charity. When the donor dies, the charity keeps the gift.  In other words, the charity pays the donor until the donor dies, then the charity keeps the remainder.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:24:25 PM

Thank you very much!  Barry

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:24:27 PM

The 1099-R form for your IRA distributions will not show how much was contributed to charity. It will just show the total amount that you withdrew for the year. You do not get a separate 1099-R for the amount you contributed to charity. You get one 1099-R for the total amount that you withdrew from your IRA. After you enter the 1099-R in TurboTax, continue through the interview questions in sequence and read the screens carefully. One of them will ask you whether part of the total was distributed to charity, and if so, how much. When you enter that information, TurboTax will exclude the charitable distribution amount from your adjusted gross income and make the necessary notation to indicate a Qualified Charitable Distribution.


Level 13
Jun 7, 2019 4:24:28 PM

The program should note "QCD" next to the line 15b notation.
And also keep in mind that you cannot take a charitable contribution deduction for this same amount; should you itemize.

New Member
Dec 8, 2019 11:31:43 AM

An important point to remember:  IRC 408(d)(8)(C) states that "a distribution...shall qualify as a qualified charitable distribution only if a deduction for the entire (emphasis added) distirbution would be allowed under section 170 ..."  So if you write a check on your IRA account to a qualified organization for $200 and $5 is not tax deductible, $0 is the amount of your qualified contribution deduction.  You can still deduct $195 if you itemize.

 

Solution is to send two checks--one for $195, which is then a qualified contribution distribution, and one for $5, which is not.

Level 1
Feb 19, 2021 8:23:09 AM

The software does not seem to be working correctly.  The amount is still included in my AGI. Also, there is no place to enter the amount of the distribution that was already not-taxable.

 

Expert Alumni
Feb 22, 2021 11:15:59 AM

Enter the 1099R and indicate "Taxable amount not determined".  After you finish input you will come back the 1099R summary screen then continue.  Eventually you will get to the nondeductible contribution screens.  Enter the non-taxable potion of the IRA there then continue through and check your taxable amount on line 4b of our 1040.

Level 1
Feb 22, 2021 11:36:56 AM

TurboTax is not asking the "RMD" question after completing the 1099 entries.  The QCD amount is part of the RMD question and gets skipped because (apparently) I am not old enough to be required to take an RMD but am old enough to make a QCD from my IRA.  Please assist me in entering my QCD amount.

EDIT:  I decided to test my hypothesis and changed my age in a copy.  By 'becoming 'older' (well past RMD age), I was able to enter the numbers (RMD and QCD) as described in the help pages.  It worked as advertised as long as I was over 72.

EDIT #2:  I received an email from a TurboTax Employee:

 
Re: The 1099-R form for your IRA distributions will not show...
 

Yes. In 2020 the Secures Act increased the  the RMD age to 72 but only if you turned 70 1/2 in 2020.  if you were already taking RMD from turning 70 1/2 in a previous year, then you have to continue taking your RMD.  Of course, for 2020 no RMD was required.  You handled the age work around correctly in TurboTax but make sure to change your age back when you are done.

Although this work around method works, it shows an error in the TurboTax program itself.  This minor variation should be available.  I am concerned that it won't "stick" during updates, etc. and will decide to switch back on its own.  The use of a QCD withdrawal is a substantial tax benefit when using the standard deduction.

 

Expert Alumni
Feb 22, 2021 3:29:26 PM

Yes. In 2020 the Secures Act increased the  the RMD age to 72 but only if you turned 70 1/2 in 2020.  If you were already taking RMD from turning 70 1/2 in a previous year, then you have to continue taking your RMD.  Of course, for 2020 no RMD was required.  You handled the age work around correctly in TurboTax but make sure to change your age back when you are done.

Level 1
Feb 23, 2021 12:37:29 PM

Although this work around method works, it shows an error/oversight in the TurboTax program itself.  This minor variation should be available.  I am concerned that it won't "stick" during updates, etc. and will decide to switch back on its own.  The use of a QCD withdrawal is a substantial tax benefit when using the standard deduction.

Level 1
Dec 9, 2021 1:10:40 PM

Currently the software is not asking if any part of the RMD was a QCD.  It has always done this in the past.  

When will this be fixed?

Level 15
Dec 9, 2021 1:15:45 PM

Just wait.  It is still early.   There will be many program updates. The IRS hasn't even updated the forms yet.

Level 15
Dec 9, 2021 1:16:46 PM

The only answer I can give you is eventually ... by the time efiling opens in January most of the program will be operational.  When you get your 1099-R revisit this section of the program. 

Level 1
Dec 9, 2021 1:18:00 PM

That doesn't help when I'm trying to figure out how much I can convert to Roth and still stay in a particular tax bracket.  I put it in the form, but I'm not sure if it will stick.

Level 15
Dec 9, 2021 1:22:05 PM

For tax planning simply don't enter the amount of the QCD in the 1099-R screen.  Or use the fully operational 2020 program. 

 

This is my mini version of  a tutorial  that should be in the downloaded program: 

 

 

What is Forms Mode?

Forms Mode lets you view and make changes to your tax forms "behind the scenes."

If you're adventurous, you can even prepare your return in Forms Mode, but we don't recommend it. You may miss obscure credits and deductions you qualify for, and you may forget to report things that will come back and haunt you later.

Forms Mode is exclusively available in the TurboTax CD/Download software. It is not available in TurboTax Online.

                  

Related Information:

                             

If you want to play around with different figures and tax scenarios without affecting your original return you can ….

  • >>>In the TurboTax CD/Download software by creating a test copy
  • 1.  Open your return in TurboTax. 
  • 2.  From the File menu, choose Save As. 
  • 3.  Give the copy a new name to distinguish it from the original (for example, by adding "Test" or "Example" to the file name). 
  • 4. Click  Save. You are now safely working in the test copy and anything you do here will not affect the original. 
  •  https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900642-how-to-make-a-test-copy-of-your-return

                        

  • >>  use the WHAT IF tool: 
  • - Click Forms Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 2 (forms view) 
  • - Click on the Open Form Icon 
  • - In the “Type a form name.” area type What-If (with the dash), click on the name of the worksheet - click on Open Form 
  • - You will see the worksheet on the right side of the screen; enter the information right into the form 
  • - To get back to interview mode - click on the Step-by-Step Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 1

 

Once you have filed shut off the auto updater function and save the return and .taxfile.

 

It's always a good idea to make a backup copy of your tax data file, in case your original gets lost or corrupted. Here's how:

  1. From the File menu in the upper-left corner of TurboTax, choose Save As (Windows) or Save (Mac).
  2. Browse to where you want to save your backup.
    • Tip: If you're saving to a portable device, save it to your computer first to prevent data corruption. Then, after completing Step 4, copy or move the backup file to your device.
  3. In the File name field, enter a name that will distinguish it from the original tax file (for example, add "Backup" or "Copy" to the file name)
  4. Click Save and then close TurboTax.
  5. Restart TurboTax and open the backup copy to make sure it's not corrupted. If you get an error, delete the backup and repeat these steps.

If you make changes to your original tax return file, repeat these steps to ensure your original and backup copies are in-synch.

Related Information:                             

 

AND save it as a PDF so you have access to a copy even if you don’t have the program still installed and operational :

AND protect the files :

 

*** Other clues to the downloaded program ***

 

In the forms mode ... double click  or right click on a box on a form to data source it ... sadly it doesn't work on all boxes. 

 

What's the meaning of all the different colors in Forms Mode?

When you look at an onscreen tax form using Forms Mode, you might wonder why one figure is blue and the one next to it is red or black.

These colors indicate the source of that data.

Color

 Meaning

Blue

You entered this data, either in the interview or Forms Mode.

Black

The program entered this data or calculated this amount.

Red

This data has either been overridden or is invalid (for example, a ZIP code that doesn't exist).

Red italics

You marked this amount as estimated.

Black italics

The program calculated this amount from an amount you marked as estimated.

Purple

This information has supporting details.

Aquamarine

This data was transferred over from last year.

Green

This data was imported from Quicken or QuickBooks.

Yellow fields (Windows)

Yellow fields allow user input. Anything you enter here shows up in blue.