Turbotax 1099-R box 17 reads "local distribution" but my 1099-R reads "Pick-Up Contrib's". Are they the same?

[jdhade]

Turbotax help and IRS instructions give no hints that box 17 might have something other than "local distribution".

[WillK · Accepted solution]

Box 17 is supposed to be used to report distributions that are subject to local taxes.  It looks like the company that issued you the 1099-R decided to use this box in a non-standard way.  Instead of local distributions, they reported your "Pick-Up" contributions.  Do not enter that amount in box 17 of TurboTax since this box is not intended for this information.

[dmertz]

Box 17 is also used to report supplemental information.  In this case it is reporting a distribution of money attributable to a state pick-up contribution.

After entering the details of this Form 1099-R (ignoring box 17), click the Continue button on the Your 1099-R Entries page and proceed to the "Where Is This Distribution From?" page.  Select the "Pickup" radio button and enter the amount shown in box 17 of your Form 1099-R.  If you do not, you'll be double-taxed on this money on your state tax return.