Why does TurboTax request the total of all contributions to a NY 529 College Savings Program for 1998 thru 2020, when NYS tax forms do not request this information?

[ErnieS0]

TurboTax will ask these questions if you made a nonqualified withdrawal in the past, i.e. pulled money out for noneducational purposes. Some of your 529 deduction may be limited under theses circumstances.

Under New York State law, nonqualified withdrawals will require the recapture of any New York State tax benefits that have accrued on contributions. This question will only come up if you had nonqualified withdrawals.

A withdrawal is nonqualified in any of the following situations:

1. The funds are used for purposes other than the higher education of the designated beneficiary.
2. The withdrawal is actually disbursed in cash or in-kind from the qualified state 529 program, even if the amount withdrawn is reinvested in the college savings program within the Internal Revenue Code 60 day rollover period, or
3. On or after January 1, 2003, the funds are transferred from the New York 529 College Savings Program, to another state's program (whether for the same beneficiary or for the benefit of another family member).
4. The withdrawal is used to pay the principal or interest on any qualified education loan [as defined in IRC section 221(d)] of the designated beneficiary or a sibling of the designated beneficiary.
5. The withdrawal is used to pay expenses for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the participation of a designated beneficiary in an apprenticeship program.

Related Resource:

• New York 529s Using Your Money

[sejones1095]

Turbotax has been asking me for the total for the past 8 years...in 2019 and 2020 i did end up with unqualified withdrawals after daughter dropped some college classes, but until then i had not, and it has always asked

[pecuddihy]

I've never taken an unqualified distribution.

This question comes up every time.

Where am I supposed to get this information? 

I thought I was paying for TurboTax to help make tax filing easier.

[CatinaT1]

You are asking your question on an old thread, so I may not be interpreting your question correctly.

Unqualified distributions are from accounts that do not receive preferential tax treatment and usually are monies you’ve already received through income sources and paid income tax on them. The distributions are taxed at ordinary income rates. 

This information would all be included on your 1099-R form.

You may request a Non-Qualified Distribution at any time. However, the earnings portion of a Non-Qualified Distribution may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty in addition to any income taxes that may be due.

If this does not answer your question, please ask your question more specifically to your situation.

[jlauria2415]

If you enter No have you made a non-qualified contribution it still asks for all the information.  It looks like it is a bug in the sytem.  Very annoying bug...

[JediNxf7]

agreed. a bug they have yet to fix. i get asked this irritating question every year as well. it has never been relevant or applicable. I've never taken a dime out of a 529. 

[RogerD1]

@JediNxf7 If you didn't make any withdrawals from the NY 529 account in this year or prior years, you might consider deleting the New York State tax return and then restarting it.  When you get to "Changes to Federal Income" in the NY state return and click Start or Update by "New York 529 college savings account activity", enter your contributions, then click Continue.  When you get to the next screen asking about Non-qualified withdrawals, click No if you did not make any Non-Qualified withdrawals.  This will take you past the screens asking for the detailed information about contributions and withdrawals that you may have made from the 529 account.

This post has some screenshots of the NY 529 entries in TurboTax