Is there a spreadsheet summation error for Line 51 of the TurboTax IRA Information Worksheet supporting Form 8606 (Nondeductible IRAs)?

[ttqueries]

The 2016 basis balances add up (the cumulative Line 23 equals the sum of Lines 24 through 32), but the 2017 numbers do not (Line 51 does not equal the sum of Lines 52 through 60).  In my case, the numbers are off by the amount of the 2017 contribution.

[dmertz · Accepted solution]

Line 23 of the IRA Information Worksheet should be entirely independent of the amounts on lines 24 through 32.  Line 23 is your contribution basis from regular contributions made to your Roth IRAs.  Lines 24 through 32 are for conversion basis which is entirely separate from contribution basis.  These are the amounts transferred in from your 2016 tax return and may suggest that you made entry errors in 2016 TurboTax or earlier.

Similarly, line 51 is entirely separate from lines 52 through 60:

• Line 51 = line 23 + line 33
• Line 52 = line 24 + line 25 + line 26
• Line 53 = line 27
• Line 54 = line 28
• Line 55 = line 29
• Line 56 = line 30
• Line 57 = line 31
• Line 58 = line 32
• Line 59 = line 35
• Line 60 = line 36