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Level 1
posted Mar 6, 2021 11:20:19 AM

Why won't turbo Tax allow me to enter my Qualified Charitable Distribution?

I am 71 and RMD's begin till age 72 but I took out funds from traditional IRA and some of the money is for QCD.

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Mar 7, 2021 10:35:53 AM

For those with a birthdate between July 1, 1949 and June 30, 1950, 2020 TurboTax presently (now version R20) has a bug the prevents it from asking the necessary question regarding transfer of the distribution to charity. As a workaround for this, with the CD/download version you can provide the QCD-amount information on the 1099-R in forms mode or in any version of TurboTax you can temporarily change your birthdate in TurboTax to something before July 1, 1949, edit the 1099-R form in TurboTax and answer the question asking how much was transferred to charity, then change your birthdate back in TurboTax back to your actual birthdate.

11 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 6, 2021 11:37:17 AM

Please follow these steps to enter your 1099-R and QCD:

  1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
  2. Click on the Search box on the top and type “1099-R”
  3. Click on “Jump to 1099-R” and enter your 1099-R
  4. Continue until the "Do any of these situations apply to you?" screen and select "I transferred all or part of this money directly to charity"
  5. Continue through the questions

 

Level 1
Mar 7, 2021 9:45:35 AM

I cannot select "I transferred all or part of this money directly to charity" because it does not exist in the "Do any of these situations apply to you?" screen. How do I get this selection to appear?

Expert Alumni
Mar 7, 2021 10:31:37 AM

Some customers experiencing this issue that the option will not come up and TurboTax is working on this. Please sign up here to receive a status update.

Level 15
Mar 7, 2021 10:35:53 AM

For those with a birthdate between July 1, 1949 and June 30, 1950, 2020 TurboTax presently (now version R20) has a bug the prevents it from asking the necessary question regarding transfer of the distribution to charity. As a workaround for this, with the CD/download version you can provide the QCD-amount information on the 1099-R in forms mode or in any version of TurboTax you can temporarily change your birthdate in TurboTax to something before July 1, 1949, edit the 1099-R form in TurboTax and answer the question asking how much was transferred to charity, then change your birthdate back in TurboTax back to your actual birthdate.

Level 1
Mar 9, 2021 7:36:16 AM

Thank you. This work around solved the problem.

New Member
Jan 25, 2022 4:30:36 PM

It will not work in the online version.  If I purchase the downloadable Basic TurboTax, will that version allow me to enter my QCD?

New Member
Jan 25, 2022 4:32:19 PM

My birthday is 1948 and it did not work for me.  

Expert Alumni
Jan 25, 2022 6:15:18 PM

Yes, it will work in TurboTax Basic download version; however, it will also work in the TurboTax online.  Use the following steps to get started entering your Form 1099-R that reports the distribution from your IRA:

  • On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)
  • This opens a box where you can type in “1099-R” (be sure to enter exactly as shown here) and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
  • The search results will give you an option to “Jump to 1099-R
  • Click on the blue “Jump to 1099-R” link

On your actual Form 1040, line 4a will include the amount of your distribution and line 4b will show any taxable amount ($0 if the entire distribution was transferred to the charitable organization) and the designation QCD will be shown on that line as well.

New Member
Feb 18, 2022 4:28:04 PM

Born in 1936…it’s not working because it keeps saying “taxable amount cannot be zero without an prior year excess IRA contribution”. It will not e-file! So frustrating 

Expert Alumni
Feb 18, 2022 4:43:49 PM

@Jmhalvo1 To clarify, what is the amount of Box 1 and 2A on your 1099R? If your 1099R has an amount in each of those boxes, then don't change the taxable amount to zero if this is the case. 

Level 15
Feb 19, 2022 5:45:44 AM

@Jmhalvo1 , you have mistakenly entered a zero in box 2a of TurboTax's 1099-R form.  You must enter the Form 1099-R exactly as received, with the same amount in box 2a as is in box 1.