@cowgirlrising So only your pension is on line 4a and only your IRA distribution is on 4b? My total pension is on 4a, taxable part of pension and fully taxable IRA distributions are on 4b. Was your 4a greater or less than your 4b?
@angela829 Don't agree with you. None of my fully taxable IRAs distributions are on 4a. They are both on 4b. I've read the IRS instructions multiple times and also talked with an IRS agent who told me that all of the 1099-Rs gross distribution amounts should be totaled and included on line 4a. More than one distribution = total amount on line 4a and taxable amounts on 4b as per IRS instructions. Some tax software products are doing this.
It would have been better if pension/annuities and IRAs had not been combined. IRS should go back to having separate lines for each of them.