Entering 1099-R data for IRA distributions does not affect Refund amounts

[lswan662]

When I manually enter my 1099-R from IRA distributions and answer all the questions that follow, nothing changes on my amount of tax owed or refunded. What am I doing wrong? My 1099-R has the same amount in box 1 and 2a. Box 2b is checked that taxable amount is not determined. Box 7 is labeled with code 7. IRA/SEP/SIMPLE box is checked. I answered the question about what did I do with the money - that I did not put it back into another IRA or HSA but rather I did something else with it - like cashed it out.

After entering all of this, nothing changes of the tax I owe or the size of my refund. I've even changed the amounts of what I entered for the 1099-R, and nothing changes.  Help

[BillM223]

This is puzzling. Are you using the CD/download product? If so can you look at the 1040 on lines 4a and 4b? 4a, at least, should increase by the amount in box 1 of your 1099-R.

There are situations in which the amount of tax owed might not change, such as the IRA distribution being a QCD (a specialized charitable contribution), or perhaps by some strange chance, the amount of withholding on the 1099-R exactly equaled the amount of additional tax required by box 1 on the 1099-R.

If you are using the Online product, go into your return (i.e., beyond the very first screen), and on the left, click on Tax Tools, then click on Tools below that, then in the center, click on View Tax Summary. Finally, on the left, click on Preview my 1040. Now in the center, you can see your 1040 and Schedules 1, 2, 3, as may be. Again, what is in lines 4a and 4b on the 1040?

Let us know what you see.