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New Member
posted Jun 6, 2019 8:33:14 AM

I rolled over a pre-tax 401(k) to a Roth IRA, but my 1099-R indicates that I rolled it into a Traditional IRA. What can I do if the 401(k) co won't issue me a new 1099-R?

Is there another form where I can claim this and pay the tax?

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:49 AM

Answered in comments

22 Replies
Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:16 AM

How does your 1099R indicate it went to a Traditional IRA?  What code is in box 7?  It doesn’t say where it went.

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:17 AM

Box 7 says 'G'

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:19 AM

G is a direct transfer.  Maybe you should have another 1099R for the conversion after you transferred it.  Did you transfer it to another company?  @dmertz

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:21 AM

Yes, but I checked with that company, and they didn't know it came from a traditional, so they never converted it. They put the funds directly into the Roth.

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:22 AM

What is in box 2a?   Did you specify to the company that this was a rollover/conversion to a Roth?

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:25 AM

If the Form 1099-R does not have the IRA/SEP/SIMPLE box marked, the Form 1099-R is reporting a rollover from a traditional account in a qualified retirement plan like a 401(k), not a rollover or conversion from a traditional IRA.  Code G is used to report any rollover from a traditional account in a qualified retirement plan, no matter if the rollover is to a traditional account or a Roth account.

To repeat VolvoGirl's question, in what way do you think that this the Form 1099-R is indicating a rollover to a traditional IRA?  Is the amount in box 2a nonzero?  Does the sum of the box 2a and box 5 amounts equal the amount that is in box 1?

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:26 AM

box 2a is $0

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:28 AM

I filled out the turbo tax form with my 1099 info (it does have IRA/SEP/SIMPLE checked), and then I was asked on the next screen if the rollover was to a Roth, and I indicated yes. The following screen on TurboTax says: "You have indicated that you rolled over a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA with a Code 'G' in box 7. If you converted a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, your 1099-R should have a Code 1,2, or 7. If your distribution is not from a traditional IRA, then the IRA box on your 1099-R should not be checked."

Turbo Tax then instructed me to contact the institution to ask for a new 1099 but they said they probably won't do that, and to check to make sure that it wasn't actually rolled into a traditional IRA and then converted to a Roth. I checked with the current IRA company, and they said, no, that it was rolled over directly into a Roth, but they didn't issue me any tax documents.

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:29 AM

IS the IRA/SEP/SIMPLE box on the 1099-R checked?

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:31 AM

There are two problems:

1) The IRA/SEP/SIMPLE box can only be checked if this was  distribution from a Traditional IRA.   If it was then code G is not allowed.

2) Unless all of the distribution was after-tax money (highly improbably) then box 2a cannot be zero.   That makes the entire distribution tax free.  More then likely if this was a distribution form a 401(k) plan then the issuer of the 1099-R coded it to be rolled into a Traditional IRA and not a Roth.  This can happen when you instruct the IRA custodian to deposit the check into a Roth and not a Traditional IRA as specified by the issuer.

So was this a 401(k)?
IS the IRA/SEP/SIMPLE box on the 1099-R checked?

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:32 AM

"More then likely if this was a distribution form a 401(k) plan then the issuer of the 1099-R coded it to be rolled into a Traditional IRA and not a Roth." Yes, this was a pre-tax 401K that was rolled into a Roth IRA.  The IRA/SEP/SIMPLE box on the 1099-R is checked.

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:34 AM

Is there any form that I can fill out on my end to fix the situation or am I stuck until I get them to issue me a new 1099?

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:35 AM

The IRA box being checked is an obvious error on the 1099-R.  A 401(k) distribution can NEVER have that box checked because a 401(k) is NOT an IRA.

IF you specified to the 401(k) plan administrator that the money was to go to a Roth and they put a 0 (zero) in box 2a then that is also an error on the 1099-R.   However, if YOU changed your mind  and deposited it into a Roth instead of a Traditional IRA that the check was made out to, then that was your error.

You should attempt to get the 401(k) plan administrator issue a new 1099-R (they should because of the IRA box) and put the taxable amount in box 2a which would be the same amount as box 1 unless you had any after-tax contribution in the 401(k) which is unlikely.

If they will not change it then prepare a substitute 1099-R (a 4852 form).  Enter the same box 1 amount in box 1 and box 2a, a code G in box 7, do NOT check the IRA box.  The interview will ask of it was rolled into a 401(k) Roth - say no, then  it will ask if it was rolled in to a Roth IRA - say yes.

Enter an explanation why you are using a 4852 - say the 401(k) was rolled to a Roth IRA so the box 2a amount was not correct and the IRA box should not have been checked.  Also state your efforts to get the 401(k) administrator to issue a corrected 1099-R.

You can choose a substitute 1099-R on the first 1099-R interview screen.

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:37 AM

Thank you so much. That is so helpful! I appreciate it.

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:38 AM

I edited my comment to correct some typos.

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:40 AM

You might need two 1099R.  This one from the 401K to the IRA (probably Traditional IRA).  Then a 1099R from the IRA plan converting it to the Roth.

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:42 AM

Thanks VolvoGirl. I checked with the current IRA holder, and they said that they didn't convert to a Roth, but directly rolled it into a Roth, so they won't be issuing me any tax forms.

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:43 AM

There is nothing in the post that suggests that the 401(k) was first rolled into a Traditional IRA and the that was converted to a Roth.  The OP said it was directly rolled into a Roth.  If it was first rolled into a Traditional IRA then the bank would issue a 1099-R for the IRA distribution.

That brings up a good point.  Who issued the 1099-R with the IRA box checked?  The 401(k) plan administrator or the bank that it was rolled into?

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:45 AM

The 401(k) plan administrator. I didn't get any forms from the bank it was rolled into. Sorry for any confusion by referring to the 401(k) in the question as an IRA. My bad.

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:46 AM

Then I stand by my comment above as to how to proceed.

New Member
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:48 AM

Thank you macuser_22 for your help. I'll go with that recommendation, then.

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 8:33:49 AM

Answered in comments