What is the amount for "Basis of Retirement Income"?

[ab_17]

My wife worked with a company providing food services to schools.  She has not been working with the company since 2015. .  The company has a retirement plan.  In 2016 the company sent a check to my wife for the total amount of the retirement plan saving ($459).  Is "Basis of Retirement Income" equal to $459?

[ToddL]

Unless she made non-deductible (i.e. after-tax) contributions to this retirement plan, her basis in the retirement plan is "0". 

In the vast majority of private retirement plans, contributions are made with "pre-tax" contributions - deducted from pay before calculating your taxable income.