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New Member
posted Jan 1, 2021 11:07:21 AM

Under the CARES ACT, I returned my RMD in my IRA , technically a 2020 Rollover. But Turbo Tax is not allowing me to report the Federal Income tax withheld in Box 4 1099

I am getting an ! mark under the money i reported in Box 4, and i am unable to continue my return due to the following quote from Turbo Tax " Federal tax shouldn't be greater an gross distribution in Box1" . So how can i proceed with my return?

0 81 10841
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24 Replies
Level 15
Jan 1, 2021 11:18:18 AM

The amount in boxes 1 and 2a of the code 7 2020 Form 1099-R must be the amount that you originally took out of the IRA, including the tax withholding, not some lower amount.  They must not have any other value.  Some or all of the distribution is made nontaxable by how you report it on your tax return, not by how it is reported on the Form 1099-R.  To make the distribution entirely nontaxable you would have had to have substituted other funds for the amount withheld for taxes.

Level 15
Jan 1, 2021 11:42:29 AM

Most financial institutions will not send 1099-R forms until the end of January 2021 - you should wait for it before entering anything.     If returned after 60 days of the distribution under the CARES act, it will also go on a new 8915-E form that is still under development by the IRS and not available in TurboTax yet.

Level 15
Jan 1, 2021 11:47:14 AM

macuser22 meant to say Form 8915-E.

 

If this distribution occurred before July 2, 2020, the regular rollover deadline was extended beyond 60 days to August 31, 2020 without it being a Coronavirus-Related Distribution that would otherwise have to be reported on Form 8915-E to be eligible to be able to roll it over beyond the 60-day deadline.

Level 15
Jan 2, 2021 8:30:51 AM

TurboTax will allow you to report the Federal Income tax withheld in Box 4, as a distribution not rolled over.

Level 2
Jan 11, 2021 7:41:17 AM

This is correct interpretation of the IRS rules, but Turbotax (Mac addition) still shows the amount of the RMD rollover as income. I just entered my 1099-R into Turbotax and now it shows I owe income tax on it. Is this a bug in the software or am I not checking the correct boxes? I tried both ways, calling it a RMD or not an RMD. I added back the amount for tax withholding of my own funds.

Level 15
Jan 11, 2021 7:55:17 AM


@jwdbond wrote:

This is correct interpretation of the IRS rules, but Turbotax (Mac addition) still shows the amount of the RMD rollover as income. I just entered my 1099-R into Turbotax and now it shows I owe income tax on it. Is this a bug in the software or am I not checking the correct boxes? I tried both ways, calling it a RMD or not an RMD. I added back the amount for tax withholding of my own funds.

 


For a simple return of a RMD do not say that is was a RMD because the 2020 RMD did not exist.   NO 2020 distribution was a RMD.

 

The CARES act provisions fir the 3 year return of distributions, and the 8915-E form that reports them, has not yet be added to the TurboTax interview because as of now the new 891E for does not yet exist (it only exists in the DRAFT state at the IRS).   Until the IRS finishes and publishes the final form and releases the electronic file specifications for that form, TurboTax (and users) can only wait.   As of now, there is not even any estimated release date.

 

You can view the draft form here:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/f8915e--dft.pdf

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/i8915e--dft.pdf

Subject to change of course since it is a draft.

 

 

(Historical fact - 2-3 years ago a late tax law that changed forms delayed the form release until May - June after the filing date- which caused many affected taxpayers to have to file extensions that gave them until Oct 15 to file.)

Level 15
Jan 11, 2021 8:49:13 AM

It's still income in the sense that it must be reported on your tax return on Form 1040 line 4a, but the rollover makes it nontaxable income excluded from line 4b such that it does not affect anything else on your tax return.

Level 2
Jan 23, 2021 5:31:14 AM

I performed an RMD on 1 Jan 2020 and then reversed it in July. So no tax should be applied. Upon entering the 1099-R RMD data and selecting rollover, TurboTax says the income is not taxable. So far, so good. However, the income still shows up on line 4b. It should not be on line 4b, so there appears to be a bug of some kind in the software.

Level 15
Jan 23, 2021 6:06:07 AM

Because the CARES Act waived RMDs for 2020, the distribution was not an RMD even if it was originally intended to be an RMD.  Delete the 1099-R from TurboTax, reenter it exactly as shown on the Form 1099-R provided by the payer, then answer the follow-up questions to indicate that none of the distribution was RMD, then indicate that you rolled the money over.

Level 2
Jan 23, 2021 6:22:02 AM

That procedure worked. Thank you. Awfully strange set-up, right? I wonder how many people will figure this out without needing help, as I did........ 

Level 15
Jan 23, 2021 6:53:35 AM

Already many dozens of people here have asked the same question.  TurboTax's "important" note on the page with the RMD question is worse than not being there at all because it causes users to respond exactly opposite from the way that they should.

 

"If you still took your RMD" makes no sense because no distribution was an RMD.  In 2009 when RMDs were similarly waived, 2009 TurboTax simply eliminated the RMD question entirely.  That's what they should have done here.

Level 2
Jan 23, 2021 8:47:49 AM

As suggested, I have deleted the old 1099R as suggested and re-entered the data from my 1099R and answered the questions. Turbotax said that I will not have to pay taxes on the distribution, but it still includes the rollovered distribution as income and increases the taxes owed accordingly. Are we waiting for the 8915E form to correct the income?

Level 15
Jan 23, 2021 8:52:32 AM


@jwdbond wrote:

As suggested, I have deleted the old 1099R as suggested and re-entered the data from my 1099R and answered the questions. Turbotax said that I will not have to pay taxes on the distribution, but it still includes the rollovered distribution as income and increases the taxes owed accordingly. Are we waiting for the 8915E form to correct the income?


Where are you looking for "income".

 

It will show as income on the summary screen which shows gross income, not taxable income.

The IRS requires reporting all income on a *income* tax return - taxable and not-taxable.

The income will be reported on line 4a  and 4b on the 1040 form with the word “ROLLOVER” next to it if it was a rollover.

The taxable amount will go on the 1040 line 4b. In the case of a rollover, nothing goes on 4b.

Level 15
Jan 23, 2021 8:54:44 AM

This has nothing to do with Form 8925-E.

 

The distribution is income in the sense that it is required to be reported on your tax return, but the amount rolled over is excludible from taxable income.  If you rolled over the entire gross amount of the distribution (substituting other funds for any amounts that might have been withheld for taxes), you should be seeing the enter distribution excluded from your taxable income.   If that's not the result, you've apparently somehow told TurboTax that the distribution was an RMD; you must tell TurboTax that the distribution was not an RMD.  Delete the 1099-R and try again.

Level 2
Jan 25, 2021 12:22:29 PM

Or on Sch. 1, line 8, sub line 22, enter as negative amount the amount of RMD that you recharacterized in 2020 pursuant to CARES Act. This will let you get your correct tax liability. Don't know if this would work for filing purposes, though there's a tab to enter an explanatory statement. If you had taxes withheld and recharacterized the whole RMD including taxes on your RMD, you made a contribution to your IRA, which is a no-no if you're a senior & complicates your return if you aren't or if you made maximum contribution for 2020. No idea how to account for this.

 

 

Level 2
Jan 25, 2021 12:26:24 PM

Check the earlier reply post by dmertz. His procedure solved my issue, and my line 4b was corrected. Thx.

Level 15
Jan 25, 2021 12:35:01 PM

There is no need for a workaround; the proper way to enter the rollover has already been described above.

 

JamesSutton's workaround is not viable.  If used, the IRS Automated Underreported System will flag an underpayment of tax and a distribution that would have been subject to an underpayment penalty if not rolled over will still have the penalty included on the tax return.

Level 1
Jan 31, 2021 5:23:15 PM

Thank you for the answer - wish TurboTax would have explained that in the instructions.  It does mention the Cares act but not on the question about the RMD.  

New Member
Feb 4, 2021 9:48:48 AM

how do I report the return of my 2020 rmd in turbo tax

Level 1
Feb 4, 2021 12:05:52 PM

I am not in front of my computer but you must first enter your 1099-R. It should have boxes 1, 2a and 7 filled in. If you paid taxes they should also be filled in. I also assume box 7 is listed as “7” for normal distribution. 

I (actual my parents) paid their RMD back including all taxes last year.   As You go through the income section of Turbo Tax you come to withdrawals from your IRA. You go through this section just as if you took the RMD.   At one point it asks: Did you take an RMD ... at this point you answer NO ! 

it is counter intuitive as there are other questions that ask about the cares act. But when I did this - it finally handled it correctly and listed the money I put back as a Roll Over. 

Let me know if you are still having an issue and I will re-answer with my computer opened and list every step and answer. 

Hope this helps. 

Expert Alumni
Feb 4, 2021 12:22:52 PM

To indicate that you returned your required minimum distribution (RMD) to your IRA, please follow these steps:

 

TurboTax Online

  1. Click on Federal > Wages & Income.
  2. Scroll down to the Retirement Plans and Social Security section and click on the Start/Revisit box next to IRA, 4701(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R). 
  3. If you've already entered one (or more) 1099-Rs, you will see a screen Your 1099-R Entries.  Click the Edit link next to the 1099-R you wish to review.   
  4. On the screen, Tell us if you moved the money through a rollover or conversion, mark the radio button,  I rolled over some of all of it to an IRA... and click Continue.
  5. A few screens after the 1099-R input screen, you should see a screen, What Did You Do With The Money From 401k institution?  Mark the radio button next to I moved the money to another retirement account (or returned it to the same retirement account).  
  6. On the next screen, Did you rollover the gross amount of $XX (Box 1)...  mark the appropriate radio button and click Continue.

 

TurboTax CD/Download

  1. Click Federal Taxes > Wages & Income > I'll choose what I work on
  2. Scroll down to the Retirement Plans and Social Security section and click on the Start/Revisit box next to IRA, 4701(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R). 
  3. If you've already entered one (or more) 1099-Rs, you will see a screen Your 1099-R Entries.  Click on the Edit link next to the 1099-R you wish to review.   
  4. A few screens after the 1099-R input screen, you should see a screen, What Did You Do With The Money From this Payer?
  5. Mark the radio button next to I moved the money to another retirement account (or returned it to the same account).
  6. Below the grey line, click the radio button next to I rolled over all of this money to an IRA or other retirement account (or returned it to the same account).  Click Continue.

@chiefhosa

Level 1
Feb 4, 2021 3:28:49 PM

I see that someone listed a set of steps below - but my experience is different.  I will list what I had to do.  I am using the Deluxe Version on a PC that I loaded off the disk.

 

The first three steps are the same:

  1. Click Federal Taxes > Wages & Income > I'll choose what I work on
  2. Scroll down to the Retirement Plans and Social Security section and click on the Start/Revisit box next to IRA, 4701(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R). 
  3. If you've already entered one (or more) 1099-Rs, you will see a screen Your 1099-R Entries.  Click on the Edit link next to the 1099-R you wish to review. 

But this is where things are very different:

  1. I get a screen that asks:
    Did <first name> Inherit the IRA from <Account Holder>
    Answer with a YES or NO:
    In my case the answer is NO
  2. Here is where the steps differ from below - as I get a screen that asks:
    About the Retirement Account
    <Account Holder>
    (long sentence about the RMD) and then
    Was this withdrawal an RMD for 2020?
    (sentence explaining about the cares act)
    Answer with a YES or NO:
    This is where I first answered YES and the program never gave my credit for my "Rollover back to my IRS" nor did it credit the Federal TAX I sent in.  When I answered NO and then went through all the other steps/questions I got full credit for my rollover and the tax I paid showed up as a REFUND
  3. Next question deals with: Transfer to Charity?  In my case it was a NO
  4. Next screen asks:
    What did You Do With the Money From <Account Holder>?
    In this case you want to indicate you rolled it over:
    <first name> moved the money to another retirement account (or returned it to the same retirement account)

    There is a second question about what you did with the money
    Choose which of these applies: 
    In my case I replied with ...
    <first name> rolled over all of this money
  5. You should then get an information screen telling you:
    You will not have to pay tax on your <states the amount of money> rollover from <Account Holder>
  6. There is one more screen that follows: Asking if you deposed the <federal tax amount> in addition to the <remainder of the distribution>  and you need to answer yes or no.
    In my case I returned all of it including the taxes.
  7. The program then cycles back to the page showing all your 1099-Rs.

Hope this helps and I am not sure why my experience was different from Irene2805 - but it worked

Level 15
Feb 4, 2021 3:38:11 PM


@MrMike53 wrote:
  1.  

Hope this helps and I am not sure why my experience was different from Irene2805 - but it worked


Irene ignored that this was a RMD and did not say to answer "NONE of this distribution was a RMD" because it was not.    The *only* reason for the RMD question at all is to prevent rolling over any part of a RMD which is not allowed, therefor to be able to roll back what was "thought" to be a RMD, but was actually not after the law was changed, the question MUST be answered that it was not a RMD to allow the rollover.

Returning Member
Feb 9, 2021 9:17:17 AM

I don't see these results when I follow the same directions.

After entering the 1099R data and answering the questions, the amount is not shown in 4a, but is shown in 4b which is taxable income.  The total income number on line 9 includes the RMD number because it is in 4b.

IS THERE A CORRECTION COMING FROM TURBO TAX?  COULD SOMEONE FROM TURBO TAX ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

Several articles in newspapers address the issue when completing the tax forms without computer software.  Namely, they say to simply not include the RMD in 4b and explain that it was a rollover.

TURBO TAX, HELP!!