I withdrew from my Roth IRA in 2024. TurboTax wants me to provide what my contributions were before 2024. I don't know what that figure is & neither does Vanguard. Why is TurboTax asking this question?
TUrboTax tries to maintain your Roth contributions history, including deposits and withdrawals, for tax purposes.
If you have this information in your own records, you don't need TurboTax to do it.
If you don't have this information in your own records, you can't expect TurboTax to do it.
If you are taking a distribution before 59 1/2 then TurboTax needs this information to check if your distribution is taxable. You can withdraw contributions you made to your Roth IRA anytime, tax- and penalty-free.
If you are over 59 1/2 and had the Roth IRA for 5 years then your distributions will be Qualified Distributions. Your Form 1099-R should have codes T or Q and you can ignore the question about the net contributions prior to 2024.
My withdrawal is not taxable. I am over 591/2 & the account has been open more than 5 years. What I do not understand is understand is what to enter into TurboTax when I am asked my prior contributions (over 40 years including transfers of my money from other financial institutions IRAs & conversions from my traditional IRA). I don't know that number & neither does Vanguard where I have my Roth IRA. What happens, if I leave it blank. Vanguard is stating that the money is non-taxable on my 1099.
Since you are over 59 1/2 and had the account for more than 5 years you can skip answering the question about the net contribution. You can leave it blank. TurboTax can see from the code on your Form 1099-R (code Q or T) that this is a qualified distribution and not taxable.
You can check line 4b of Form 1040 that it isn't taxable.
To preview Form 1040 in TurboTax Online: