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Level 3
posted Feb 15, 2022 6:10:23 PM

How do I enter a backdoor Roth IRA conversion?

I have been using TurboTax for several years and I always have problems entering my backdoor Roth IRA conversion on the TurboTax online. My wife and I both put in $7,000 non-deductible after tax dollars into a IRA in 2021 and then immediately converted it to a Roth IRA. When I follow the two step process I must be missing something this year as it doesn't change my taxes and when I preview my 1040 (using Tax Tools then Tools) my Form 1040, Line 4a  is blank instead of showing the correct $14,000.

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24 Replies
Level 2
Feb 15, 2022 6:18:01 PM
Level 3
Feb 15, 2022 6:31:25 PM

The link that sends to the backdoor Roth IRA conversion is not working for me this year. I don't understand step 2.1 is trying to say as I don't get a "jump to link".  I get all of the other prompts except 1.7 I assumed because all of my my IRA contributions are nondeductible.

Expert Alumni
Feb 15, 2022 7:14:14 PM

Here are the Online instructions below.   Step 2.1 is just to get you to the 1099-R section of the software.   In the search box, type 1099-r and hit enter.   You should see a Jump to 1099-r link in the search results.   You may want to delete the 1099-r you started and then go through all of the steps again, slowly, carefully reading each step below.     You have to have earned income entered in order to get to the screen in 1.7 - Choose not to deduct IRA contributions.

 

Step 1:  Enter the Non-Deductible Contribution to a Traditional IRA

  1. Open your return if it’s not already open
  2. Inside TurboTax, search for ira contributions and select the Jump to link in the search results
  3. Select Traditional IRA on the Traditional IRA and Roth IRA screen and Continue
  4. Answer No to Is This a Repayment of a Retirement Distribution?
  5. On the Tell Us How Much You Contributed screen, enter the amount contributed and continue
  6. Answer No on the Did You Change Your Mind? screen
  7. Answer the questions on the following screens, until you reach Choose Not to Deduct IRA Contributions. Select Yes, make part of my IRA contribution nondeductible and Continue

Step 2:  Enter the Conversion from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA

  1. Inside TurboTax, search for 1099-r and select the Jump to link in the search results
  2. Answer Yes to Did you get a 1099-R in 2021?, then Continue
    • If you land on the Your 1099-R Entries screen, select Add Another 1099-R
  3. Select how you want to enter your 1099-R (import or type it in yourself) and follow the instructions
  4. Answer None of these apply when you reach the screen Do any of these situations apply to you?
  5. Select I converted some or all of it to a Roth IRA on the Tell us if you moved the money through a rollover or conversion screen
  6. Next, choose Yes, all of this money was converted to a Roth IRA
  7. Continue answering questions until you come to the Your 1099-R Entries screen

To check the results of your backdoor Roth IRA conversion, see your Form 1040:

  1. On the left side of your screen, select Tax Tools, then Tools
  2. Under Tool Center, select View Tax Summary
  3. On the left side of your screen, select Preview my 1040
    • Your backdoor Roth IRA amount should be listed on Form 1040, Line 4a  as IRA distributions
    • Taxable amount should be zero unless you had earnings between the time you contributed to your Traditional IRA and the time your converted it to Roth IRA, then the earnings would be taxable
    • Schedule 1, Line 20 IRA deduction, should be blank
  4. Select Back on the left side of your screen to return to where you left off in TurboTax

 

 

Level 3
Feb 16, 2022 4:58:47 PM

I get all of the prompts that you state except when I enter my non-deductible IRA it doesn't ask "Do you want to make your IRA contributions nondeductible?". I get "Income Too High To Deduct an IRA Contribution" which is the same thing but it doesn't seem to filling out the 1040 line 4a with my non-deductible IRA contributions as it has in past years. Because of this, TurboTax is making me pay income taxes on my non-deductible IRA contribution that I converted to a Roth IRA. This is unacceptable.

 

I called in and got a case number [phone number removed] which was set to "resolved" but nothing was resolved. It looks like there is a software bug this year with TurboTax Premier. The agent said I filled everything out correctly but couldn't figure out why TurboTax wasn't filling out the 1040 line 4a correctly.

 

If I can't get this resolved soon then I will have to use another companies tax software.

Expert Alumni
Feb 16, 2022 5:51:01 PM

You should make sure when you entered your 1099-R distribution, that you indicated the the funds were Moved to another retirement account and Rolled Over. You will see this option on the 1099-R entry screen that says What Did You Do With The Money From (recipient name). That should prevent the proceeds from being listed as taxable.

Level 3
Feb 16, 2022 6:50:55 PM

I didn't roll over any of the non-deductible funds. I deposited after tax funds from my savings into an IRA and then converted them immediately to a Roth IRA hence a backdoor Roth IRA conversion. As the funds were after tax the conversion isn't taxable.

Expert Alumni
Feb 16, 2022 7:12:35 PM

I assume you received a form 1099-R reporting the conversion. Typically, it shows as a distribution. So, in effect you withdrew the funds from a traditional IRA then rolled them over to the ROTH IRA. That is why it is considered a rollover.

 

 

Level 3
Feb 18, 2022 5:11:40 PM

2022 Turbotax software still doesn't work for backdoor Roth IRA conversion. I didn't have any problems with my 2018, 2019 and 2020 tax years using Turbotax and the instructions were the same.

I

The only difference in the instructions is when I enter my non-deductible IRA it doesn't ask "Do you want to make your IRA contributions nondeductible?". I get "Income Too High To Deduct an IRA Contribution" 

 

My case #[phone number removed] was set to "resolved" because they couldn't explain why the software wasn't working.

Expert Alumni
Feb 19, 2022 5:56:33 AM

Please be aware, that Form 1040  4a shows your total distributions and not the nondeductible part. If you didn't have any earnings during the conversion then you will have a $0 taxable amount in line 4b. Sometimes TurboTax will not show the amount in 4a but that doesn't affect the correctness of the amount in 4b.

 

Yes, if you have a retirement plan at work and are over the income limit it will be nondeductible automatically and you only get a screen saying $0 is deductible. Your basis of $7,000 will be entered on line 1 of Form 8606. You will have two Form 8606 one for you and one for your wife.

 

@youngkuurus 

New Member
Feb 19, 2022 3:05:48 PM

I am having this exact same problem. It never asks me if I want to make any of my contributions nondeductible, and the Form 1040 shows a taxable amount even though I did the backdoor conversation.

Level 3
Feb 19, 2022 8:48:24 PM

I have called into Turbotax and they agree that something is wrong with the software this year. They elevated the issue. I am waiting to hear back.  I would recommend that you call Turbotax that you are having the same problem. It looks like Step 1 item 7 is what is wrong this year. Turbotax worked fine for me on my 2018, 2019, 2020 taxes using the same instructions.

Level 1
Feb 21, 2022 6:59:06 AM

I am getting this same issue... I am trying to input my 1099-R for my backdoor Roth and getting the same issues as younkuurus. My contribution is nondeductible but your software is taxing me this year. How do I get this corrected? I have been on the phone with your tax experts multiple times without a resolution. 

 

Thank you,

Returning Member
Feb 21, 2022 12:23:08 PM

I can confirm it finally showed up correctly for me. 1040 line 4a showing the correct amount and the taxable amount on line 4b is 0.

Level 1
Feb 21, 2022 1:20:55 PM

Are you using the premier Online version? If so, how did you get this to work? I am getting the following error "Your Wife Can't deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if you are covered by a retirement plan at work and your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than $208,000.

 

I have gone through these forms with Turbo tax specialist's multiple times, and this shows up. This is the 1st time using Turbo tax but haven't had this taxable issue in a backdoor Roth in past years.

 

Thank you in advanced.

Level 3
Feb 21, 2022 4:21:41 PM

What did you do differently than the instructions? I am still showing 1040 4a and 4b as $0 whereas my 4a should be $14,000 and 4b $0 using a backdoor Roth IRA conversion.

 

Turbotax doesn't seem to be interested in fixing the software problem they have so I will soon have to look into another company that allows for a backdoor Roth IRA conversion in 2021. I signed up for the "Premier Live" and that accomplished absolutely nothing!

Level 1
Feb 21, 2022 4:22:52 PM

I am having the exact same issue.  Despite it working last year, no matter what I do, the backdoor conversion is still showing up as taxable income.  

 

Sure would love for Turbotax to let us know how to fix this before the prices go up.  

Level 3
Feb 21, 2022 4:52:26 PM

I just got off with the TurboTax Premier Live help and they stated that TurboTax software will be corrected to properly fill out 2021 backdoor Roth IRA conversions on

3/31/22

.

Level 1
Feb 22, 2022 1:29:38 PM

what did you do to get this resolved? I'm still unable to resolve this. Step 1 - 7  isn't an option that shows up. 

Expert Alumni
Feb 22, 2022 2:01:15 PM

Doing a backdoor Roth conversion is a two-step process.

 

Step 1:  Enter the Non-Deductible Contribution to a Traditional IRA.

 

Step 2:  Enter the Conversion from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

 

Click this link for instructions on How to Enter a Back-Door Roth Conversion

Level 3
Feb 22, 2022 2:33:51 PM

You aren't following the topic. The instructions you are quoting are not working in the 2021 software. TurboTax support said the software would not be corrected until

3/31/22

.

Expert Alumni
Feb 23, 2022 5:59:41 AM

I tried to recreate the issue in TurboTax Premier Online but wasn’t able to recreate it. It would be helpful to have a TurboTax ".tax2021" file that is experiencing this issue. You can send us a “diagnostic” file that has your “numbers” but not your personal information. If you would like to do this, here are the instructions: 

  1. From the left menu select Tax Tools. 
  2. Then select Tools below Tax Tools. 
  3. A window will pop up which says Tools Center.  
  4. On this screen, select Share my file with Agent. 
  5. You will see a message explaining what the diagnostic copy is. Click okay through this screen and then you will get a Token number. 
  6. Reply to this thread with your Token number. This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.  

 

 

We will then be able to see exactly what you are seeing and we can determine what exactly is going on in your return and provide you with a resolution.

 

@youngkuurus

 

 

New Member
Feb 23, 2022 10:55:40 AM

So if we did a backdoor Roth IRA, we can not submit our taxes until after 3/31/22 when the 2021 Turbo Tax software is supposedly updated/fixed for taxing our contribution (per another customer's post)? Thank you.

Expert Alumni
Feb 23, 2022 2:19:12 PM

I could not recreate the issue so please try following these steps below for backdoor Roth and then verify if lines 4a and 4b on Form 1040 show it correctly.

 

To enter the nondeductible contribution to the traditional IRA:

  1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
  2. Click on "Search" on the top right and type “IRA contributions”
  3. Click on “Jump to IRA contributions"
  4. Select “traditional IRA
  5. Answer “No” to “Is This a Repayment of a Retirement Distribution?
  6. Enter the amount you contributed
  7. Answer “No” to the recharacterized question on the “Did You Change Your Mind?” screen
  8. Answer the next questions until you get to “Any Nondeductible Contributions to Your IRA?” and select “Yes” if you had a nondeductible contributions before this tax year.
  9. If you had a basis in the Traditional IRA before then enter the amount.
  10. On the “Choose Not to Deduct IRA Contributions” screen choose “Yes, make part of my IRA contribution nondeductible” and enter the amount (If you have a retirement plan at work and are over the income limit it will be nondeductible automatically and you only get a screen saying $0 is deductible).

 

To enter the 1099-R distribution/conversion: 

 

  1. Click on "Search" on the top right and type “1099-R”
  2. Click on “Jump to 1099-R”
  3. Click "Continue" and enter the information from your 1099-R
  4. Answer questions until you get to “Tell us if you moved the money through a rollover or conversion” and choose “I converted some or all of it to a Roth IRA
  5. On the "Your 1099-R Entries" screen click "continue"
  6. Answer "yes" to "Any nondeductible Contributions to your IRA?" if you had any nondeductible contributions in prior years.
  7. Answer the questions about the basis and value

 

 

To preview Form 1040:

 

  1. Click on "Tax Tools" in the left menu
  2. Click "Tools"
  3. Click "View Tax Summary" in the Tool Center window
  4. Click on "Preview my 1040" on the left

 

The taxable amount in line 4b on Form 1040 should be $0 unless you had earnings or you had previous deductible funds left in the traditional IRA and Schedule 1, line 20 should be blank.

 

@djgirl18

Level 3
Feb 23, 2022 4:25:38 PM

My token number is ks-934615.

 

Let me know if you need anything else.