1099-R Box 16 is blank and Box 14 filled, so TT won't let me proceed. Always allowed in the past!

[buckeyeandbluegrass]

For the past 14 years I received an RMD distribution for a small non-spousal Beneficiary IRA from my deceased parents. This distribution is reflected annually on a 1099-R. As usual, my current 1099-R Box 16 is blank, with Boxes 1, 2a, 2b, 4, 7, 14, 15 being filled. This is the identical scenario I have had since I received my first RMD distribution, and I have always filed my tax return using TT without problem. This year though, TT will not let me proceed past the blank Box 16 as it has always done before. It instead gives an error message stating that if Box 14 has a figure, then Box 16 must also have a figure that is greater than Box 14. First time ever! And it won't let me continue! I am in Ohio (in case that matters.)

So far, the most common advice I see here in TT Community is to populate Box 16 with zero, or the data from Box 1 or 2a, but I am extremely uncomfortable with this since it is not reported that way on my official 1099-R.

To investigate deeper into the problem, I reviewed my TT filings for several previous years, and can see that the record keeping documentation produced at the end of filing includes a "Schedule of Ohio Withholding" which doesn't even have a Box 16 at all. I went to the Ohio website and found the form was the same there.

Also, of special note, for each year I've filed, the TT documentation shows that the 1099-R produced for record keeping has Box 16 filled in as $0.00 (and if I actually go into the old TT programs themselves, and navigate to the 1099-R input section with the blank entry, and then switch to forms view, I see the same $0.00 there (which apparently resulted from my leaving Box 16 blank all these years.) So even if I were take the advice of previous Community helpers to ignore the blank and plug in a number, TT still wouldn't let me use zero in Box 16 (which would at least have been in line with the record keeping documentation of previous years) and using the Box 1 or 2a number in Box 16 seems even further from correct.

Does anyone have any thoughts about how I should proceed?

[VolvoGirl]

It should be the same in prior years.  If you have an amount for withholding in box 14 you need to enter the same amount as box 2a in box 16.    If box 14 is blank you can leave boxes 14,15 & 16 blank.

[buckeyeandbluegrass]

Thank you for your reply. My prior 14 years of 1099-R’s are indeed the same as my current (2024) 1099-R with Box 14 showing the State Withholding figure and Box 16 still blank. Only thing different from prior years is that TT isn’t allowing me to enter that data that way this year.

Of note, I reviewed the TT documentation from my previous years TT filings and can see that in all prior years TT construed the blank input for Box 16 as $0.00 (zero).  

[indynanna131]

I live in Indiana and am having the same issue. TT won't let me go any further from box 16 and won't take $0.00.

I too have never had this issue before.  

[Griffdr77]

There is a current investigation For updates subscribe here: https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-r/un[product key removed]-dist...

[buckeyeandbluegrass]

Thank you for the reply! Unfortunately, the link you provided gives the following error: 

XML Parsing Error: no root element found
Location: https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-r/unable-enter-state-distribut...
Line Number 1, Column 1:

If you could re-post the link, I'd like to look it up and see if it might be of help to me.  Earlier, I did find a known issue TT was working on re:1099-R, with a sign up for updates. It's not quite the same as my scenario, it's for  Users that have a version of TT where (ironically almost opposite of my problem) they do have a figure in Box 16 of their 1099-R, but cannot enter anything  because Box 16 is missing from their TT product. I signed up for it in case my issue might also be cleared by their fix, which they indicated would be within 7 days, but it's been two weeks, and there have been two updates (including one specifically for Ohio) but  my problem persists.

[Bikeandsail]

I have a Charles Schwab 1099-r that also has block 16 blank with values in block 14, I am in Ohio. This is obviously a bug in the Turbo Tax program that needs fixed pronto!! I cannot file my taxes because of this issue.

[Bikeandsail]

Also putting $0.00 does not work.

[VolvoGirl]

If box 14 has an amount and box 16 is blank put in the amount from box 2a in box 16.  If box 2a is blank, and you haven't made after-tax contributions to the account, you can use the amount in box 1.

[Dumonsters]

agreed. Turbo Tax needs to get this edit fixed allowing box 16 to be blank! 

[Griffdr77]

Looks like they removed the link I am looking for another one for this issue.

[Griffdr77]

I was able to use the link If not search "turbotax Why am I unable to enter my state distributions in my 1099-R?" This is a post that you can keep updated when this issue is resolved. 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-r/unable-enter-state-distribut...

[wca769]

Myv1099 R is blank on the state section

[777Tax]

I am also in Indiana and having the same issue.  Always allowed in the past.  How are we to proceed?  I do not like the option of 'just put in amount from 1 or 2a.  I always left it $0.00 in the past.

[VolvoGirl]

Here is an official Turbo Tax FAQ.   It's for Louisiana but will be the same for any state.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-r/fix-louisiana-1099-r-without...