For 2026 estimated taxes, I have no way to enter my estimated 2026 IRA 1099-R withholding.

[rbtnich]

For my 2026 estimated taxes, I expect withholding from my IRA distribution on my 1099-R. TurboTax is asking only for W-2 withholding, and there I have no employer or wages. My estimated tax payments are apparently based on some assumed withholding, because they do not come close to covering my tax obligation. Where do I enter my actual expected IRA 1099-R withholding? Should I just invent an employer and wages?

This was quite straightforward in TurboTax 2024. Something seems broken in 2025.

[EDIT] Now I see that for "Estimated withholding for 2026" it is using "(2025 actual withholding)", and there is apparently no way to change that.

[ReneV4]

To enter your estimated 2026 IRA withholding, don't try to fix the 1040-ES worksheet directly. In Forms Mode, if you see a number in red, that indicates an override. Instead of overriding the Worksheet, use the Step-by-Step method so that TurboTax can calculate the other dependencies correctly.

1. Go to Other Tax Situations located to the right of the Deductions & Credits tab
2. Scroll down to Other Tax Forms
3. Select Form W-4 and Estimated Taxes
4. Choose Estimates on the Adjust How Much Tax You Pay screen, then Continue
5. This allows you to manually enter expected amounts for 2026 rather than letting the software "guess" based on 2025

Note: Choose the 110% Rule if you expect to make more money in 2026 and the 90% Rule only if you're certain that your income will be significantly lower in 2026 so that you don't end up owing an underpayment penalty.

[rbtnich]

I have been trying to use step-by-step, but it gives me no opportunity to enter my expected 2026 withholding.

When I select Estimates and then Continue, the information I get to enter is:

• Your 2026 W-2 Wage Information (I have none -- I'm retired)
• Your 2026 Self-employment Information (none)
• Investment Gains, ... you expect in 2026 (I do have that, none of which is subject to withholding)
• Your 2026 Adjustments (none)
• Your 2026 Net Investment Income (entered)
• Your 2026 Itemized Deductions (a few, but I take the standard deduction)
• Your 2026 Tax Credits (none)
• Payments You've Already Made (there are none, but entering an amount there makes no difference)
• Apply Refund to Next Year's Taxes (yes, I have an amount there)
• Estimated Taxes already paid (none yet)

That's all I get to enter. Nothing but Payments You've Already Made seems close to being relevant, and even that has no effect. When I QuickZoom to the Estimated Tax Payment Options Worksheet, it always shows Expected withholding for 2026 as "(2025 actual withholding)". No, I am not trying to make changes there.

[MonikaK1]

Since the Estimates method under Other Tax Situations doesn't specifically include a screen to enter pension income and withholding, you can add items in the Wages screen, label them as "pension", and enter the amount you expect to receive in 2026 as well as the amount of taxes you will have withheld.

See this TurboTax tips article for more information.

@rbtnich 

[rbtnich]

I tried that. I'll try it again now. Same result. I enter wage information with "IRA distribution" as the employer and the actual amounts for the distribution and the withholding, then:

1. The amount entered for Expected wages inflates my expected income for the year,
2. The Expected withholding for 2026 that shows up on the Estimated Tax Payment Options worksheet is still "(2025 actual withholding)", and the Balance of estimated taxes due is unchanged.

It just does not work. There is just no way to enter the correct withholding.

My 2025 return has been submitted and accepted now. I'll just have to ignore what TurboTax thinks my estimated tax payments should be.

[rbtnich]

It's my understanding that a fix for this is scheduled.