topic 1040 SR line 4a is blank but line 4b shows the correct amount from the 1099 in Retirement tax questions

1040 SR line 4a is blank but line 4b shows the correct amount from the 1099

dghardesty — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 18:09:57 GMT

Can you fix this or explain why it won't cause an issue for the IRS?

Re: 1040 SR line 4a is blank but line 4b shows the correct amount from the 1099

VolvoGirl — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 18:12:27 GMT

That's right. If 1040 line 4a is blank, See IRS 1040 Instructions page 25 first column near bottom

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf

It says.......

Except as provided next, leave line 4a blank and enter the total distribution (from Form 1099-R, box 1) on line 4b.

Re: 1040 SR line 4a is blank but line 4b shows the correct amount from the 1099

dghardesty — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 18:25:37 GMT

Answer correct and useful.

Re: 1040 SR line 4a is blank but line 4b shows the correct amount from the 1099

dsaftler0 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 20:18:21 GMT

I believe there is an issue in TurboTax 2021:

I had a distribution from an IRA in 2020. There was a taxable amount of $12,300.

I imported the 2020 tax data when I started 2021. That amount came over in 4b, even though 4a was blank.

I tried deleting the payer, and the amount stayed. I tried manually overwriting the 4b amount, the amount stayed. That's how I found this answer.

The only way I could make that 12,300 go away was to start a new return and skip the import.

Could someone technical test this and see why?

Re: 1040 SR line 4a is blank but line 4b shows the correct amount from the 1099

DawnC — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 21:03:33 GMT

Did you spread the tax over 3 years on your 2020 tax return? Look at last year's return to verify. If you spread the tax last year, you should see one-third of the total distribution amount from your 2020 Form 1099-R on Line 4b in 2020, 2021, and next year's return (2022) too. 4a should be blank and 4b reports the taxable portion for the current year. @dsaftler0