Backdoor Roth conversion with non-deductible contributions to traditional

[GeoErick]

Here's the situation -

I contributed fully - $6,000 - to Roth IRA in 2020.

In 2021 - I discovered that I only qualified for $200 contribution to Roth, so I had to do a recharacterization of $5,800 (non-deductible) to Traditional IRA. I then did a backdoor conversion to Roth.

I then contributed another non-deductible $6,000 to Traditional IRA and then did another backdoor conversion to Roth.

I generated some earnings in Traditional IRA that was converted to Roth.

Now, does that mean the entire balance was taxable even $11,800 was already taxed previously before  contribution to Traditional? Does that means it was double-taxed, even I did not qualify for deduction due to income limit?

How do I report that? I already got two 1099-R.  one was for Roth IRA recharacterization which is not taxable, and one was for Traditional IRA conversion to Roth which showed entire amount as taxable.

I'm quite confused.

Thank you!

[FangxiaL · Accepted solution]

The converted amount should not be taxable because you have already paid tax on it. 

Follow the two-step process to properly enter your backdoor Roth conversion:

Step 1: Enter the Non-deductible contribution to a Traditional IRA:

1. Open your return if it's not already open
2. Inside TurboTax, search for ira contributions and select the Jump to link in the search results
3. Select Traditional IRA on the Traditional IRA and Roth IRA screen and Continue
4. Answer No to Is this a Repayment of a Retirement Distribution?
5. On the Tell Us How Much You Contributed screen, enter the amount contributed and continue
   • Enter $6,000 for Your total 2021 traditional IRA contributions
6. Answer No on the Did You Change Your Mind? screen
7. Answer No on Any Excess IRA Contributions Before 2021?
8. Answer Yes, I made and tracked nondeductible contributions to my IRA, or No, I did not make and track nondeductible contributions to my IRA. If you don't have any other Traditional IRA accounts, you can answer Yes
9. Enter $5,800 for Total Basis as of December 31, 2020 on next screen
10. Answer the questions on the following screens, until you reach Choose Not to Deduct IRA Contributions. Select Yes, make part of my IRA contribution nondeductible and enter $6,000 in the box. 

Step 2: Enter the Conversion from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA

 Inside TurboTax, search for 1099-r and select the Jump to link in the search results

1. Answer Yes to Did you get a 1099-R in 2021?, then Continue
   • If you land on Your 1099-R Entries screen, select Add Another 1099-R
2. Select how you want to enter your 1099-R (import or type it in yourself) and follow the instructions
3. Answer None of these apply when you reach the screen Do any of these situations apply to you?
4. Select I converted some or all of it to a Roth IRA on the Tell us if you moved the money through a rollover or conversion screen
5. Next, choose Yes, all of this money was converted to a Roth IRA
6. Continue answering questions until you come to the Your 1099-R Entries screen

To check the results of your backdoor Roth IRA conversion, see your Form 1040:

1. On the left side of your screen, select Tax Tools, then Tools
2. Under Tool Center, select View Tax Summary
3. On the left side of your screen, select Preview my 1040
   • Your backdoor Roth IRA amount should be listed on Form 1040, Line 4a  as IRA distributions
   • Taxable amount should be zero unless you had earnings between the time you contributed to your Traditional IRA and the time your converted it to Roth IRA, then the earnings would be taxable
   • Schedule 1, Line 20 IRA deduction, should be blank
4. Select Back on the left side of your screen to return to where you left off in TurboTax