Retired clergy housing allowance box 2 b checked

[drpmoeller]

When I follow the directions provided by the community and Turbo Tax for reducing taxable clergy pension by my housing amount, ie, subtracting the allowable housing amount from the pension amount, I get a 0 in box 2b.  However, on line 14 of the worksheet, the full pension amount is shown as the taxable amount, with no deduction at all.  That also transfers to 1040 line 4b.  What's going wrong here? 

[LeonardS]

If Box 2b is checked

Enter the appropriate taxable amount in Box 2a of the Enter your 1099-R screen.

1. Enter the amount in Box 1 as it's shown on your 1099-R.
2. Subtract your documented housing expenses from the gross distribution amount in Box 1 and enter the result or zero (whichever is greater) in Box 2a, Taxable Amount.
3. Check Taxable amount not determined in the Box 2b section.
4. Enter the rest of your 1099-R as you see it.

Ref: How do I enter a parsonage or housing allowance on a 1099-R?

[drpmoeller]

Exactly what I have done that got the results I identified in my initial post.  My entire gross amount  is included as taxable income.

[KarenJ2]

How do I enter a parsonage or housing allowance on a 1099-R?

As a retired minister, you can exclude any documented housing expenses from
your allowance. Any allowance in excess of your documented expenses is
considered taxable income.

If you're not already on the 1099-R screen, open your return, search for 1099-R or
1099R (lower case works too) and then select the "Jump to" link in the search
results. Follow the directions to import or manually enter your 1099-R.

How you account for the exclusion depends on whether or not Box 2b (taxable
amount not determined) is checked.

If Box 2b is checked
1. Subtract your documented housing expenses from the gross distribution
amount in Box 1.
2. Enter the result in Box 2a, Taxable Amount, if it's a positive number.
o If the result is a negative number or 0, enter 0 in Box 2a.

If Box 2b is not checked

Enter your 1099-R exactly as you see it. You'll make an adjustment on another
screen:

1. With your return open, search for other reportable income and then select
the "Jump to" link in the search results.
2. Answer No to Did you receive other wages? and select Continue.
3. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the Miscellaneous
Income screen and select Start next to Other Reportable Income.
4. Answer Yes, and on the Other Taxable Income screen, type Clergy Housing
Allowance in the description and enter your documented housing expenses
as a negative number (precede the expenses with a minus sign, e.g. -10,000).
This will remove the nontaxable portion from the distribution reported on your 1099-R

[blbuie]

I subtracted the allowance from the amount shown in box 1 on the 1009-R and entered the remainder (the true taxable amount) in box 2a, as instructed in the "help" info.  But then it continues to require an answer to chose between the "general" and "simple" method of having arrived at the amount.  How do I respond to that section?

[blbuie]

I have done that but on the next screen it asks me to check whether I used the "simple" or "general" method to calculate the amount entered in 2A.  Neither is correct, and I cannot find a way past that screen.  If I just tab through it, the review at the end balks.  Help!

[KathrynG3]

Since you are still being asked this question, I recommend changing your approach.

First, follow these steps:

• Delete this Form 1099-R by clicking the trash can icon next to it in the summary list
• Signing out of TurboTax
• Closing the browser window
• Waiting a minute
   
• Log back into TurboTax from an incognito Chrome browser
• Enter Form 1099-R exactly as you received it. Regarding the parsonage, if any further adjustment is needed, follow TurboTax Employee Tax Expert KarenJ2's advice above about making this adjustment as a negative entry: How to enter a housing allowance from Form 1099-R.

Regarding the General v. Simplified Rule for Form 1099-R, see Tax Topic 411 Pensions

@blbuie