topic Re: IRA Deduction in Retirement tax questions

IRA Deduction

tbert56783 — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:40:08 GMT

Neither my wife nor I, are covered by a retirement plan at work. Why won't Turbotax allow us to deduct an IRA contribution, when it has in past years? I am receiving a pension from a former employer but that shouldn't matter, especially for my wife. Any help is appreciated.

Re: IRA Deduction

AnnetteB6 — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 14:24:43 GMT

It is difficult to say what is preventing you from being able to deduct a Traditional IRA contribution if your tax situation is similar to what it was in past years. No one here is able to see your return to give you that specific advice.

Take a look at the following TurboTax help article to learn more and see if any of these situations fit what you are seeing on your return:

How much of my Traditional IRA contribution is deductible in 2022?

Re: IRA Deduction

tbert56783 — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 14:39:08 GMT

Based on the article you referenced and the IRS guidance our deductions should be fully deductible. The interesting thing is that I just did my son's taxes, who works part time at a convenience store, and Turbotax says his contributions aren't deductible either. Seems like a Turbotax problem. I'll have to contact them. Thanks for your help.

Re: IRA Deduction

AnnetteB6 — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 14:51:49 GMT

If you would be willing to provide a diagnostic copy of your tax file, we can take a closer look and try to explain what is causing the contribution to not be deductible. The diagnostic file will not contain personally identifiable information, only numbers related to your tax forms. If you would like to provide us with the diagnostic file, follow the instructions below and post the token number along with which version of TurboTax you are using in a follow-up thread.

Use these steps if you are using TurboTax Online:

Sign in to your account and be sure you are in your tax return.
Select Tax Tools in the menu to the left.
Select Tools.
Select Share my file with agent.
A pop-up message will appear, select OK to send the sanitized diagnostic copy to us.
Post the token number here.

If you are using a CD/downloaded version of TurboTax, use these steps:

Select Online at the top of the screen.
Select Send Tax File to Agent.
Click OK.
Post the token number here.

@tbert56783

Re: IRA Deduction

tbert56783 — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 12:24:30 GMT

Token number 1122143. Using CD version of TurboTax Home and Business.

Re: IRA Deduction

AnnetteB6 — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 12:54:46 GMT

Thank you for sending your token number. I opened your tax file and noticed that you have not entered any information for contributing to an IRA for the 2022 tax year. I was able to enter a $7000 contribution to a Traditional IRA for both the taxpayer and spouse without any issues. The full contribution amount is deductible.

Use the following steps to go to the IRA contribution section and enter your contributions:

On the top row of the TurboTax screen, click on Search
This opens a box where you can type in “IRA contributions”
The search results will give you an option to “Jump to IRA contributions”
Click on the blue “Jump to IRA contributions” link

Be sure to check the boxes for Traditional IRA under both names. Then go through the section and enter the amount that you plan to contribute before April 18, 2023.

If the 'jump to' link does not work, go to Personal > Deductions & Credits > Retirement & Investments > Traditional and Roth IRA Contributions and click Start or Update.

@tbert56783

Re: IRA Deduction

tbert56783 — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 13:28:22 GMT

So you're telling me I should ignore the message that says, "It turns out you don't qualify for a retirement tax break"? In addition, when I do as you suggested, it tells me I got a deduction, but doesn't change my refund amount. Shouldn't my refund be higher with an additional deduction?

Re: IRA Deduction

JulieS — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 13:50:40 GMT

It depends on the details of your tax return.

In general, a deduction will increase your refund, but if you have already reached your maximum potential refund, more deductions don't result in a higher refund.

For example, if you have $40,000 in income and had $3000 in tax withheld and no tax credits. If you have $26,000 in itemized deductions, you will get the $3000 back as a refund.

An additional $7000 IRA deduction won't result in a higher refund because your total tax is already $0.

Check line 24 of your Form 1040. If that number is $0, you can't get a higher refund through more deductions.

Re: IRA Deduction

tbert56783 — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:06:03 GMT

Thanks. In going back over the forms, I realized that the amount of tax due is self-employment tax. If I understand correctly, I can't reduce that as it is related to social security and medicare.

Re: IRA Deduction

JulieS — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:17:04 GMT

Yes, that is correct.

Re: IRA Deduction

icnewer — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 16:36:42 GMT

Hi experts, I can't remember whether I took the IRA contribution as the deductible or not in the past few years tax filed, where can I find the clue or verify whether I took IRA deductible or not from the 1040 forms?

Re: IRA Deduction

DianeW777 — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 17:12:44 GMT

First check the 1040 form for each year, Schedule 1, Part II, (line 20 2023) IRA Deduction. If there is none then you didn't take the deduction, in which case you should look for Form 8606 for each year or the most recent form in 2022, if applicable (should carry the accumulated amount).

@icnewer

Re: IRA Deduction

icnewer — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 20:23:42 GMT

Thank you @DianeW777 ! I got the idea on where to check IRA deductible, but a follow-up question:

what should I do if I did a traditional IRA conversion to Roth in 2019 tax year but forget to report it correctly? (and I'm not 59yrs old yet)? Should I file a tax amend for tax year 2019 now, otherwise will be a big penalty later down the years? (though the traditional IRA contribution was likely after-tax, that I need to double check from previous tax files).

Re: IRA Deduction

DianeW777 — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 20:58:15 GMT

You definitely need to amend to be sure your cost basis is all collected to your Roth. You should have received a 1099-R when the money was moved to the Roth IRA. Also be sure to file a form 8606 if necessary.

If you already filed your returns and you need to amend or change them you can use the links below to get started:

How do I amend a prior year return?

Your tax return shouldn't really change if you did not deduct your traditional IRA contributions. If that's the case I probably would not amend at this point. You can file the 8606 alone and sign it.

@icnewer

Re: IRA Deduction

icnewer — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 21:57:09 GMT

Thanks, @DianeW777 so we can just do a form 8606 update on 2019 yr conversion? it's already 3+ yrs, so it's still possible to do it without that "up to 3yrs amend update" rule? (assuming all my traditional IRA contribution is after-tax so I won't do the filing amend but just a 8606 update).

Re: IRA Deduction

DianeW777 — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:08:19 GMT

Yes, I am saying the Form 8606 should be filed now for 2019. The IRS has been known to process Form 8606 that was filed late even one that is filed after the regular three-year statute of limitations for claiming a refund has expired. This is why it's important to file the form to show your after tax/nondeductible contributions and we will assume they will acknowledge it and allow this to be used when you take distribution because you already paid tax on the money you contributed that was not allowed to be deducted on your tax return.

@icnewer

Re: IRA Deduction

icnewer — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 05:49:48 GMT

thank you @DianeW777 , got it. Do you know how to file form 8606 alone? Do I have to mail all those forms to IRS? is there an online portal available or can I just log into TT to submit this form please?

Re: IRA Deduction

DianeW777 — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:52:47 GMT

Yes, you will mail Form 8606 to the IRS. If you are required to file Form 8606 without a 1040, sign Form 8606 and send it to the IRS at the same time and place you would otherwise file Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR. Be sure to include your address on page 1 of the form and your signature and the date on page 2 of the form.

Form 8606 Instructions
Form 8606 (2019)
Where to mail tax forms (scroll for your state)

@icnewer

Re: IRA Deduction

AthensK — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:12:14 GMT

I am having the same issue. I am retired and receiving a pension. I am working full time at a new job and I am not covered by a pension plan with the new employer. TurboTax will not allow the IRA deduction even though our combined income is well below the threshold. As a result, TurboTax is indicating that I owe a sizeable amount to the IRS rather than receiving a refund.

Per the TurboTax software: Limitations of the IRA deduction

- You can deduct all of your contribution if you (and your spouse, if filing a joint return) are not covered by a retirement plan at work.

This appears to be a bug in the software programming logic. Is there a fix for this being generated?

Re: IRA Deduction

DJ-Poceus — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 11:25:10 GMT

It seems TurboTax Online has a general 1099 import problem with directly downloading Form 1099 from multiple other financial institutions. Identical problem as defined below was noted in 2022.

2023 Income Tax preparation was going fine until the very last filing step (E-File step 3). Both 2023 Federal and NY State tax returns had passed the earlier final checks. After paying for the alleged checked OK tax returns with no errors found, did payment (Step 1), then entered our ID info as required using our NY State drivers licenses (Step 2). Directly after completing payment (step 1) and entering ID information (Step 2), then get to the last Step 3 – E-File the Federal and State income tax returns. When the e-file button is clicked, Turbo Tax Online software presents an error in Fidelity RMD 1099-R entry in the NY State tax return that must be fixed. However, all data in the subject 1099-R is checked, re-checked, and verified correct multiple times. The problem is reported in this 1099-R Box 14a (the NYS withholding tax) by messaging something like this ...the Box 14a value can not be greater than or equal to the gross distribution. Logical, but the entered value is correct (exactly 10% of the Gross Distribution)! Otherwise put, subject 1099-R Box 14a value is exactly 10% of the Box 1 Gross Distribution (Box 14a value = $440.00, exactly 10% of the true Fidelity RMD Box 1 gross distribution $4,400.00). A professional Turbo Tax Online (2nd/3rd Level) software analyst needs review this problem. This issue that has been present in TT Online software for over 1 year. We experienced the identical problem as last year with the 1099-R importing, a 2022 1099-R Fidelity Investments Turbo Tax Online income tax service, the RMD paid via Fidelity affiliate National Financial Services LLC. Something is wrong with importing Form 1099-R generated by Fidelity Investment's National Financial Services LLC into Turbo Tax Online software. The only error that must be fixed in this 1099 is the detected non-existent error.

Recommendation: Stop the 1099 download into TurboTax Online from other financial institutions until TurboTax software troubleshooters can evaluate and fix your Form 1099 importing software issues. Enter the 1099 date manually.

I am a retired computing engineer and network admin... and capable of communicating with higher level software analyst(s) regarding your unresolved software issue. There is no issue with my Federal Income Tax Return... the problem surfaced only in the 2023 NY State Tax Return filing. Please do so by contacting me, Dave Paul by my known email. Many thanks.