Why are there new annuity questions with start date, plan cost, etc.? I have never incurred these before and the question mark on demand guidance provides no assistance.

[ReneV4]

There are new annuity questions due to the SECURE ACT. The good news is that you can usually skip this section.

Review the section to see if you may have checked the box that says "Yes, this is a 403(b) plan, or if you indicated that you received scheduled payments.

If you did, you are effectively telling the software, "I have a Tax-Sheltered Annuity," which triggers the confusing questions about annuity start dates and cost basis.

If this does not apply, follow these steps to bypass the annuity loop:

1. On the 1099-R entry screen, make sure Box 7 matches your form (likely Code 7 or Code 1)
2. Ensure the "IRA/SEP/SIMPLE" box is unchecked (since it's a 401a, not an IRA)
3. When the software asks, "Was this distribution from a 403(b) plan?", select "No, it's another type of qualified retirement plan"
4. By selecting No, the software should treat it like a standard pension or 401k distribution and skip the "Annuity" questions entirely

[dmertz]

The TurboTax developers made an inappropriate change to the wording of one of the questions that you encountered, causing massive confusion for those whose Form 1099-R for a pension or annuity distribution has a different amount in box 2a than is in box 1.  See this post:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/retirement/discussion/re-box-1-2a-on-1099-r-have-different-amounts...

[bryce_in_tx]

My wife's distributions are from a 403(b) plan. She's a retired Texas teacher.   TTX is asking questions, it would seem, to calculate the tax free portion and the taxable portion.  No, the state of Texas has already done that and put those amounts on the 1099-R.  I don't need those values determined by TTX, nor need the questions to be asked.  Is there a way to bypass the questions, truthfully?  These questions were not asked in prior years. 

[mesquitebean]

@dmertz   The user bryce_in_tx  also has his own thread started at:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/retirement/discussion/1099-r-for-my-wife-texas-teachers-retirement...