Teachers' Pension and IRA deduction

[tmelly]

I'm a teacher and part of the MO Teacher Pension.  Still planning to work for another twenty years as a teacher and member of the pension.  Can I still make deductible IRA contributions on top of the pension?  Am I considered a covered employee and subject to the lower contribution limits?

[Rainman12]

If your W-2 has the 'Retirement Plan' box checked, then you can make IRA contributions subject to lower limits for year W-2 covers. https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/2019-ira-deduction-limits-effect-of-modified-agi-on-deduction-i... 

[dmertz]

And box 13 Retirement plan on your W-2 should be marked because the pension plan is a workplace retirement plan that covers you for the tax year.

[dmkluver09]

How is the retirement plan contributions accounted for on your taxes?  When I did my taxes this year there is nothing in the. 1040 on line 5a for Pensions listed.  Should the amount of contributions I made to retirement be on this line?

[VolvoGirl]

No.  Line 5a is for the Gross Distribution.  If the taxable amount on 5b is the same as the gross distribution on 1099R box 1 then it doesn't show the amount on 5a.

See IRS 1040 Instructions.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf