OPM 1099R

[husker mace]

Why is the taxable amount on my 1099R less than my gross distribution?  

[SamS1]

You must have made after-tax contributions.  This is generally true for insurance annuity contracts or charitable annuities.  This would also be true for any Roth retirement plan or IRA you might have contributed to..  Check out box 5 of your 1099R.  The amount in this box plus the box 2a amount should equal the box 1 Gross Distribution.

[GTMEL]

The two numbers differ because if you were under the Civil Service Retirement plan you made money each paycheck into your retirement therefore the total amount at retirement of what you paid in was pre-taxed. That total amount is prorated by the OPM over your life drawing retirement and the pro-rated amount is used until such time that you have drawn all pre-paid amounts out. At that time your Taxable income and total income will be the same. Turbo Tax and the OPM and IRS need to make note of this as the amount is questioned each year I have filed taxes using Turbo Tax including this year 2021 and I have now been retired 20 years this year. Yes I know I am and old fart. 

Stay safe

GTMEL