Why does my Form 8606 Line 15a have a value when both Line 7 and Line 12 are blank?

[zoomstat]

This was a backdoor Roth contribution, so the Taxable Amount in Line 15c should be $0. The correct amount is entered into 1040 Line 4b, so this did not influence my tax calculation, but the 8606 appears incorrect.

[macuser_22]

If there is a * next to line 15, the calculations were done on the "Taxable IRA deduction worksheet" per worksheet 1-1 in IRS Pub 590-A and not on the 8606.

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590a#en_US_2019_publink100025076

That worksheet is used when there is a contribution and distribution in the same tax year.

[zoomstat]

Thank you. It does have the star and references Pub 590-B. The calculation seems incorrect, as my Traditional IRAs finish every year with a $0 balance. It seems strange that this amount does not make it to any lines of income in my 1040, and I have never had this issue in previous years.

[macuser_22]

The 8606 line 15b should be on the1-4- line 4b.

Sounds like your entries are incorrect.   Your 2020 non-deductible contribution must be on the 8606 line 1, any 2019 or earlier non-deductible contributions on line 2 - the total on line 3.

If your IRA 2020 year end value was zero then  the deduction worksheet line 4 should be zero.