What do I do when original Roth contribution amount not known?

[catbill]

I opened a Roth IRA 25 years  ago, more or less.  I think I only contributed once.  It was rolled over to another fiduciary company.  I no longer have tax records from then and the current holder would not have records of the original contribution. 

Do I have any option other than making a best-guess estimate of the original contribution?   

[Mike9241 · Accepted solution]

If you're 59-1/2 or older, the distribution, including any earnings, is tax-free. Your basis becomes irrelevant unless you are trying to suggest the distribution will be less than what you think you contributed.  If under 59-1/2, any income distributed may be subject 10% penalty. Withdrawal of contributions is penalty-free. They come first - before income distributions.

[catbill]

Thank you. That is helpful and clear.

I assumed that  Turbotax was forcing me to enter a figure.  Fortunately, I found that I could just leave it blank. 

Unfortuantely, Turbotax does not explain any of this nor link to further relevant information.

Thanks again.

[Mike9241]

I agree that, in some areas, TurboTax is lacking in at least abbreviated explanations. But consider that the latest tax act is about 1,000 pages. Explanation of these provisions runs thousands of pages more and this is just one tax bill.