I forgot to do the Roth backdoor conversion during the calendar year - how do I avoid paying tax?

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I usually do a Roth backdoor contribution each year. In 2022, I contributed to the traditional IRA, but then completely forgot to do the conversion. I did the conversion this year (2023), so I don't have a 1099-R for the distribution for the 2022 calendar year.

How can I avoid paying tax for what was a non-deductible contribution on after-tax money? TurboTax fills out form 8606 as though it's taxable. Is there any way around this? Or am I out of luck due to the mistake?

[AnnetteB6 · Accepted solution]

There should be no tax imposed on a non-deductible Traditional IRA contribution as long as you did not contribute more than the annual contribution limit.

Go back through the IRA contribution section of your return and be sure that you entered the contribution as a Traditional IRA contribution.  

Also, double-check the amounts that you entered to be sure you did not include any earnings that may have accumulated between the time you contributed the money and the time that you converted it to a Roth IRA in 2023.  If the account had accumulated earnings, then only the earnings portion will be taxable when you report the conversion on your 2023 return after receiving the Form 1099-R.

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Thank you! I think I was getting confused because it has a cost basis, which makes sense because it wasn't converted during the calendar year.