There is no amount of money in Box 2a, and Box 2b is checked. I think that Box 2a should be filled. How do I get this fixed

[Micsbraves]

Normally the amount in Box 1 is the same amount in Box 2a on my other 1099-R forms

[DavidD66]

When box 2a on a 1099-R is blank it's because the payer (financial institution) can't determine the taxable amount.  This happens in the case of a direct rollover, a nontaxable transfer, a Roth distribution, or when they don't have records of your cost basis.  You have to determine/calculate the taxable amount yourself.  If the taxable amount is the same as the amount in box 1 then enter that amount in box 2a in the program.  If it was a non-taxable rollover, you would enter $0.  

[Micsbraves]

David - Thank you for the reply. We are going to enter the amount in Box 1 on my wife's 1099-R into box 2a in turbotax. My wife retired at the end of 2024 so 2025 is her first year receiving her pensions. That's what this money is, strickly pension money. We called PBGC and they told us that's the way they always report it, which seems foolish because neither of her other pensions or my pension have blank amount in box 2a.

[JamesG1]

If your wife made pension contributions to the pension plan while she was working for the employer, their would be a cost basis that would be recovered.  Box 1 would report the pension distribution.  Box 2a would report the taxable portion of the pension distribution.  The difference would be the cost recovery of the cost basis.

The preparer of the IRS form 1099-R should know your wife's cost basis in the pension plan if your wife has a cost basis.

@Micsbraves