I started the year with a traditional IRA that was entirely post-tax money, and converted to a ROTH. How do I report that in turbo tax without it making it all taxable?

[macuser_22]

Is that the ONLY Traditional IRA account?
Did you make any 2018 contributions or were they prior to 2018?

[svensk-navi]

Yes, this was my only traditional account. I made 2018 contributions, those all also got converted.

[macuser_22 · Accepted solution]

This so-called “back-door Roth” method ONLY works if you have NO OTHER Traditional IRA accounts.  If you do, then the non-deductible part must be spread over ALL accounts and cannot be withdrawn by itself.  Only if you started with NO Traditional, SEP & SIMPLE IRA and ended up with a zero amount in ALL Traditional, SEP & SIMPLE IRA accounts will this Roth conversion not be taxable.

First you must enter your Traditional IRA contributions (if there were 2018 contributions).

IRA contribution
Federal Taxes,
Deductions & Credits,
I’ll choose what I work on (if that screen comes up),,
Retirement & Investments,
Traditional & Roth IRA contribution.

Be SURE to answer the follow up that the are choosing to make this contribution NON-DEDUCTIBLE - if that screen comes up. (DO NOT say that you moved (recharacterized) the money to a Roth) – this is a conversion, not a recharactorazition.

Then enter the 1099-R that shows the distribution.

Federal Taxes,
Wages & Income
I’ll choose what I work on (if that screen comes up),,
Retirement Plans & Social Security,
IRA, 401(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R).

Answer the follow-up questions answer the question that you moved the money to another retirement. The screen will open up with choices of where it was moved. Choose you converted it to Roth IRA.

When asked if you have made any non-deductible contributions say " "yes" if you did then enter the non-deductible contributions made for tax years before 2018.     (Usually zero unless you also made a 2017 or earlier non-deductible contribution. If you do have prior year basis then enter the last filed 8606 line 14 value.).

Enter the 2018 year end value of your Traditional IRA a "0" (zero) - if it is in fact zero - this tax free Roth conversion will not work if it is not zero.

[If you had any other Traditional IRA at the end of 2016, then the nondeductible "basis" must be pro-rated over the current distribution and the total IRA value and only a portion of the Roth conversion will be non taxable and part will be taxable, with the remaining non-deductible basis carrying forward for future distributions. You can never only withdrew the nondeductible basis as long as the IRA exists and has a value more than zero.]

The non-deductible amount of your contribution will be subtracted from the taxable amount of the conversion on then 8606 form and enter on line 4a of them 1040 form and a zero taxable amount on line 4b if you did it right.

Also see this TurboTax FAQ:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4350747-how-do-i-enter-a-backdoor-roth-ira-conversion

[svensk-navi]

So this is the guide I was following, the one part I'm not sure of - on the nondeductible contributions page, should I be entering the amount that was in there before 2018's contributions?

[macuser_22]

Your 2018 contributions are entered in the IRA contribution interview which will put it on line 1 on the 8606 form.

The 10990-R interview asks for previous non-deductible contributions before 2018.  You were required to file a 8606 form for each year that you had a nondeductible contribution.   Box 14 on the last filed 8606 would be entered and that will go on line 2 on the 8606.   When lines 1 & 2 are added it accounts for all current and previous non-deductible basis in the IRA.

[svensk-navi]

Got it. Looks like it's good now. Thanks for the help.