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Level 2
posted Feb 14, 2020 11:36:39 AM

input 12/31/2019 value of ira's

when i input the 12-31-2019 value of my ira's my refund went down more than $1,000. why?

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24 Replies
Level 15
Feb 14, 2020 11:39:06 AM

Are you over 70 1/2?  Were you supposed to take out more for the RMD?  Did it want your 2018 ending balance or 2019?

Level 2
Feb 14, 2020 11:45:49 AM

73 y/o.

I took out what Schwab told me take as RMD.

2019.

It also wanted it for 2018 last year.

Level 1
Feb 18, 2020 7:46:16 PM

Turbo Tax for the value as of Dec. 31, 2019, but I'm thinking they meant 2018.  My husband took out what he was told to by brokerage firms.

Level 15
Feb 18, 2020 7:49:11 PM

@dmertz where or why does it want the 2019 ending balance?

Level 1
Feb 18, 2020 7:52:18 PM

it was on page after entering in the info from my 1099-r (which were RMDs)

Level 1
Feb 18, 2020 8:12:26 PM

Same thing happened on our tax return- why  My husband took out what he was told to take out

Level 15
Feb 18, 2020 8:16:35 PM

2019 TurboTax's question asking for your 2019 year end balance in traditional IRAs has nothing to do with calculating RMDs.  2018 TurboTax does not calculate RMDs, so it has no reason to ask for your 2018 year year-end balance; it has no need to do so.  Entering the year-end balance allows TurboTax to do a correct calculation of the nontaxable and taxable amounts of the traditional IRA distribution that was reported on the Form 1099-R.  Without the entry of the year-end value, the calculation result is erroneous because TurboTax assumes a zero year-end balance in the absence of the entry.  The correct calculation reduces the erroneously high refund amount or the erroneously low balance due with your tax return.

 

You can see the calculations on Form 8606 Part I.

Level 2
Feb 19, 2020 6:41:45 AM

"Without the entry of the year-end value, the calculation result is erroneous because TurboTax assumes a zero year-end balance in the absence of the entry."

 

That makes no sense.  Why does TT assume a zero y/e balance?

 

TT has all the info it needs to calculate taxes without asking for the 2019 y/e balance.  Calculating in the order in which it asks the questions just confuses and alarms users when the tax due increases right after the input.

 

Do better TT, or users will go elsewhere.

Level 15
Feb 19, 2020 8:48:48 AM

"TT has all the info it needs to calculate taxes without asking for the 2019 y/e balance."

 

That's a false statement.  There are two situations where your tax liability cannot be determined without entering your year-end balance in traditional IRAs:  The calculation of the nontaxable amount of a traditional IRA contribution when you have basis in nondeductible traditional IRA contributions (Form 8606) and the calculation of a penalty for an excess traditional IRA contribution (Form 5329).

 

To complete the calculations on Form 8606, TurboTax has to assume something for the missing amount needed on line 6.

 

Years ago I suggested to Intuit that TurboTax's Smart Check should issue an error indication if Form 8606 is needed to calculate the nontaxable and taxable amounts of a traditional IRA distribution if the year-end value has not been provided, but they have not implemented this suggestion.

 

Keep in mind that any calculation of a refund or balance due is almost meaningless until you have fully completed your tax return.

Level 1
Feb 20, 2020 7:52:36 PM

Still not understanding.  The distributions taken in 2019 were based on the value of IRAs at the end of 2018 not 2019.  Also, when inputting the info from the 1099s we marked what was for charity and what was not.  Those for charity were not taxable and those that weren't for charity were taxable.  The value of the IRAs at the end of 2019 have nothing to do with income so why should it effect and lower refund?

I looked at the 8600-1 form you mentioned and the numbers there don't add up to the source they were supposed to come from.

Level 15
Feb 20, 2020 9:46:55 PM

"The distributions taken in 2019 were based on the value of IRAs at the end of 2018 not 2019."

 

ker2, you are continuing to think that TurboTax is asking for a year-end balance to calculate RMDs.  TurboTax is not.  TurboTax does not calculate RMDs.  Because TurboTax doesn't calculate RMDs, 2019 TurboTax has no need to know your 2018 year-end value and will not ask for it.

 

" those that weren't for charity were taxable."

 

Apparently not entirely taxable.  TurboTax is appropriately asking for your 2019 year-end balance because you apparently have indicated to TurboTax that you have basis in nondeductible traditional IRA contributions and your 2019 year-end balance is required on Form 8606 to be able to calculate the amount of the nontaxable portion of the your distributions that were not QCDs.  Until you enter the year-end balance, TurboTax cannot properly calculate the nontaxable amount and calculates a nontaxable amount that is too high, causing TurboTax's refund display to show an inflated amount.  Once you enter your 2019 year-end balance, TurboTax recalculates the correct lower amount that is nontaxable, appropriately lowering your refund.

 

Look at your 2019 Form 8606 to see the calculation of the nontaxable and taxable amounts of your traditional IRA distributions that were not QCDs.  Your 2019 year-end balance is required to be present on line 6 to be able to do the proper calculation.

 

(The only other reason that 2019 TurboTax would ask for a a 2019 year-end balance is if you have excess contributions in your IRA, but that's unlikely for someone subject to RMDs.)

Level 1
May 11, 2020 6:24:56 AM

For my 2019 IRS filing, why does turbo tax want me to report the  value of my Traditional IRA's for year end 2019?

Level 1
May 11, 2020 6:25:24 AM

year end 2019

Level 15
May 11, 2020 2:26:38 PM

TurboTax asks for this in anticipation of two possible situations.  TurboTax needs to know this to determine the penalty if you have an excess contribution in a Traditional IRA for 2019 or to calculate the taxable amount of a traditional IRA distribution or Roth conversion made in 2019 if you have basis in nondeductible traditional IRA contributions.

Level 2
Jun 1, 2020 5:36:43 PM

I had no IRAs opened until a few months ago, and couldn't put much in a roth IRA due to income. I will be making a contribution for 2019 of $3030 to a nondeductible IRA before July 15, 2020. In the traditional IRA section, it says "Let us know if you made and kept track of any nondeductible contributions to your traditional IRA from 2018

or prior years."

... nothing about 2019.

 

If I do select yes to that question, the next page says "If you did make any nondeductible contributions, look at your most recent Form 8606. Find the box called total basis and enter the number from that box below. If you never filed a Form 8606, just enter 0 (zero)", but the box to fill in after that statement still says "Total Basis as of December 31, 2018".... which doesn't include my 2019 contributions. 

 

Do I just not notate it as a nondeductible contribution or what do I do here? I appreciate any help!

Level 15
Jun 1, 2020 5:42:20 PM

Why would you answer yes?  You didn't even have a IRA in 2018 or prior.  Answer NO.

Level 2
Jun 1, 2020 5:54:37 PM

It is a contribution for 2019 though, and if I don't put anything about it being a nondeductible contribution how will they know? Is there a separate area for me to fill out form 8606 for 2019?

Level 15
Jun 1, 2020 5:56:52 PM

I never made a non deductible ira contribution so I don't know the questions for it.  I'll page @dmertz 

Level 15
Jun 1, 2020 6:15:42 PM


@nicholetuck wrote:

It is a contribution for 2019 though, and if I don't put anything about it being a nondeductible contribution how will they know? Is there a separate area for me to fill out form 8606 for 2019?


Yes.  The IRA contribution  interview.  Say you want it to be non-deductible if the question comes up.

 

Enter IRA contributions here:
Federal Taxes,
Deductions & Credits,
I’ll choose what I work on (if that screen comes up),
Retirement & Investments,
Traditional & Roth IRA contribution.

OR  Use the "Tools" menu  (if online version under My Account) and then "Search Topics" for "ira contributions" which will take you to the same place.

Level 2
Jun 1, 2020 6:22:27 PM

@macuser_22The details under the "Any Nondeductible Contributions to Your IRA?" question say:

 

Let us know if you made and kept track of any nondeductible contributions to your traditional IRA from 2018 or prior years. (This is not common.)

Most people do not make or track any nondeductible contributions to their IRAs.
 

 

So even though the contribution was for 2019, and the question is asking about 2018, would I still select yes?

Level 15
Jun 1, 2020 6:44:43 PM

@nicholetuck 

 

Check your other posts for the answer you seek.

Level 2
Jun 2, 2020 4:58:44 AM

My suggestion is do not put non-deductible money into an ira.

You get no benefit versus putting the money into a regular savings or investment account.  And it's a pain in the ass to deal with when you start making RMD's.

Level 15
Jun 2, 2020 5:32:38 AM

"You get no benefit versus putting the money into a regular savings or investment account."  That might be true for some individuals, but for many others there are several potential benefits, depending on the individual's particular circumstances.  For some, the deferral of investment gains will allow those gains to be taxed at a future, lower marginal tax rate.  For some, it can be a path to getting money into a Roth IRA to grow tax free for those not eligible to contribute directly to a Roth IRA.

Level 1
Mar 3, 2023 6:13:47 PM

I sure wish I had never made a nondeductible IRA contribution!

I also wish TurboTax would ask me ALL pertinent questions about it every year! (Form 8606)