Can IRS Form 1040SR Line 5b ever be greater than Line 5a?

[WHK]

Thanks dmertz for the clarification. It doesn't seem to change the outcome of what it appears Turbo Tax did incorrectly.

All 1099-Rs entered had the Taxable Amounts identical to the Gross Amounts. By VolvoGirl's excerpt of 1040 Line 4a & 4b instructions, no number should appear on 5a. Line 5b should be the total of all the individual1099-Rs entered. TT put numbers in both 5a and 5b. I do not have control of those entries, the software populates it based on the entries made on the 1099-R page. Even setting that issue aside, the numbers being different is still incorrect.

Given my specific case of All Gross = All Taxable, the numbers populating 5a and 5b should be identical by the IRS rules/instructions.

[WHK]

Thanks for the clarification VolvoGirl. Now dmertz agrees there are conditions where 5b can be greater than 5a but that doesn't seem to change the outcome of what it appears Turbo Tax did incorrectly.

All 1099-Rs entered had the Taxable Amounts identical to the Gross Amounts. By your excerpt of 1040 Line 4a & 4b instructions, no number should appear on 5a. Line 5b should be the total of all the individual1099-Rs entered. TT put numbers in both 5a and 5b. I do not have control of those entries, the software populates it based on the entries made on the 1099-R page. Even setting that issue aside, the numbers being different is still incorrect.

Given my specific case of All Gross = All Taxable, should not the numbers populating 5a and 5b be identical by the IRS rules/instructions?

[RobertB4444]

Yes, @WHK your 1099-R should have 5a and 5b equal.  Or 5b should have been less than 5a by $9,138.  But unfortunately, because 5b can be greater than 5a, the program can't shut down your ability to file if there is a discrepancy there.  It flags it with the little yellow review triangle that you saw and leaves it at that.  So you've got an unfortunate typo there but not a software bug.

On the good news front it is entirely possible that the IRS will catch your error and adjust your return on its own.  The 1099 totals on your return won't match what's in their system so they may issue an adjustment to you.  

@WHK

[WHK]

Thanks RobertB4444. Since TT can't trap that scenario and stop filing until corrected, would a notification to the user during the "Final Check" process be a possible improvement in the software behavior? It could inform the user of the number of these "flagged" conditions and where in the return they exist, along with a recommendation to re-evaluate these before submitting the return.  Just a suggestion for those of us user that have "fat fingers" ;o)

[jameshohner2159]

Yet I have the same problem except 4a or 5a are blank with amounts in 4b or 4b.   1099Rs are correct as is the 1099R Summary Worksheet.  Is this a bug in Turbo Tax Deluxe?

[jameshohner2159]

I am having a similar problem.  I have no "G" code just blank 4a or 5a boxes when I have the correct taxable amount in 4B or 5B.  Can I submit a return with blank 4a or 5a boxes for Form 1040-SR?

[VolvoGirl]

Yes.  It's ok for  line 4a and 5a to be less than the taxable amount on b.    And if the gross amount on line a is the same as b then "a" can be blank.