topic New turbotax user Recharacterize Roth IRA to Traditional IRA in Retirement tax questions

New turbotax user Recharacterize Roth IRA to Traditional IRA

Ampick — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 17:31:08 GMT

Hello, 1st time using turbotax. Although its more expensive I am switching for 2025 taxes do to excellent community support.

January 2025 deposited $8000 (50 and older) to 2025 Roth IRA. Due to increase in wages my magi is too high and I will contact vanguard in January and have $8000 plus earnings re-characterized as a new IRA.

My concern, what steps must be taken to fill out taxes properly on turbotax.

It should be a simple process but the more I read the more confusion occurs, especially because I won't receive any tax forms 1099-? till next year regarding this re characterization. Do I need to make one up.

If anybody can guide me thru this process it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Re: New turbotax user Recharacterize Roth IRA to Traditional IRA

dmertz — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 01:37:48 GMT

Much more straightforward to complete the recharacterization before the end of 2025 rather than waiting until 2026. Doing so will mean that you will receive a 2025 Form 1099-R reporting the recharacterization instead of the recharacterization being reported on a 2026 Form 1099-R a year later. The amount of contribution that you will recharacterize is $8,000. The gain/loss-adjusted amount is the amount that will be transferred to accomplish the recharacterization of the $8,000 contribution.

Whether you do the recharacterization of this contribution in 2025 or 2026, in 2025 TurboTax you'll enter the original $8,000 Roth IRA contribution, then you'll tell TurboTax that you "switched" the $8,000 to be a traditional IRA contribution instead. TurboTax will subsequently prompt you to enter the required explanation statement. No need to make up any Form 1099-R even if you do the recharacterization in 2026.

Re: New turbotax user Recharacterize Roth IRA to Traditional IRA

lbm1230 — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:51:01 GMT

I cannot find where you tell Turbo Tax that you "switched" a contribution. I'm not getting a prompt for where to explain the recharaterization.

Re: New turbotax user Recharacterize Roth IRA to Traditional IRA

MarilynG1 — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:39:24 GMT

To report a recharacterization from a Roth to a Traditional IRA in TurboTax, enter the original contribution under IRA Contributions, select "Yes" to "Did you recharacterize from a Roth to Traditional IRA?", and enter the amount moved.

You're then asked for the reason for recharacterization and Form 8606 is generated if needed, treating the contribution as if it were originally made to a Traditional IRA.

@lbm1230