What is the best way to find total contributions to a Roth IRA since inception? Form 1099-R shows yearly contributions, but I'm struggling to track them all down. Cheers

[SweetieJean]

Check your bank records? Ask the plan administrator?

[dmertz · Accepted solution]

As SweetieJean mentioned, your first source would be your Roth IRA account statements.  However, the Roth IRA custodians must report to the IRS on Forms 5498 the contributions that you make for each year, so these for each year are what the IRS goes by.  If cannot locate your copies of these Forms 5498, you can find these reported in your Wage and Income transcripts for each year beginning with 1998, the first year for with Roth IRA contributions were permitted.  Your most recent Wage and Income transcripts are available online:  https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

For older Wage and Income transcripts you'll need to submit Forms 4506-T:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf

Note that your eligibility to make a regular Roth IRA contribution is limited by modified AGI, so for any years that your modified AGI was above the limit you should not have made a regular Roth IRA contribution.

You can also receive basis in Roth IRA contributions from the rollover to an IRA of a Designated Roth Account in a qualified retirement plan such as a 401(k).  The basis available to be rolled over would have appeared in box 5 of the Form 1099-R reporting the distribution from the Designated Roth Account.  Forms 1099-R are available in your Wage and Income transcript for the year of such distribution.

Also note that your basis in Roth IRA contributions will have been reduced by any prior distributions you have made from your Roth IRAs.

[jcw0220]

This was extremely helpful until I started dealing with the IRS's website. Thanks for getting me pointed in the right direction.

[pbean242]

I agree with comment. I was lost at the wage and income transcript, so I'll go back to my brokerage.

[dval29]

@dmertz this is a very helpful answer, but I have a few questions. Essentially, I need to find my Roth IRA contributions from 10+ years ago. The recent contributions from the last 10 years were available on the "Get Transcripts" site on the "Wage and Income Transcript" links. However, as you state, I must order the older ones through Form 4506-T. Two questions there: 

- Nowhere on the form can I order a "Wage and Income Transcript." However, the checkbox on Line 8 is called, "Form W-2, Form 1099 series, Form 1098 series, or Form 5498 series transcript" which is similar to how "Wage and Income Transcript" is described. So is this the right box to check (Line 8)? 

- Secondly, on line 8, it states, " The IRS may be able to provide this transcript information for up to 10 years." Obviously, my entire reason for requesting it via mail is because I need the older Wage and Income transcripts from 10+ years ago. Will I be able to get those? Should I just ignore this line? 

Thanks so much