Can I leave boxes blank in Form 8606 Parts 1 and 2 for Roth IRA withdrawals?

So I took money out of my Roth IRAs this year (2024), but only the contribution amounts - didn't touch any of the earnings at all. I'm filling out Form 8606 now and wondering if I can just completely skip Parts 1 and 2? Since all my withdrawals were just contributions coming back out, it seems like Part 3 is the only section that actually applies to my situation. This is my first time having to deal with this form and I'm trying not to mess anything up. The instructions aren't super clear about whether I need to put zeros in Parts 1 and 2 or if I can just leave them completely blank and jump straight to Part 3. Anyone know the right way to handle this?

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18 comments

Emily Jackson

•8M

You're on the right track! For Roth IRA withdrawals that consist solely of contributions (not earnings), you only need to complete Part 3 of Form 8606. Parts 1 and 2 are for Traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs and Roth conversions, which don't apply to your situation. You can leave Parts 1 and 2 completely blank and just fill out Part 3. Make sure you complete lines 19-22 to properly report your Roth IRA distributions. Line 19 will be your total distribution amount, line 20 will be zero (since you're not including any qualified first-time homebuyer expenses), and line 22 should equal line 19 (assuming all distributions were contribution amounts). Keep good records of your contributions over the years though - you might need to reference them if you get questioned about this withdrawal.

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Emily Jackson

•8M

Yes, you definitely need to complete the identification section at the top of Form 8606 with your name, address, and Social Security Number even if you're only filling out Part 3. This ensures the IRS can properly identify whose form it is. Taking distributions from your Roth IRA doesn't affect your contribution limits for the current year. For 2025, you can still contribute up to the annual limit ($7,000 if you're under 50, or $8,000 if you're 50 or older), as long as you meet the income requirements. Your withdrawals don't change these limits.

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Sophia Nguyen

•8M

After struggling with the exact same situation last year, I found an amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure this out. I was also confused about which parts of Form 8606 to fill out for my Roth IRA withdrawals. The tool lets you upload your tax documents and it actually explains exactly which parts of the forms you need to complete based on your specific situation. It pointed out that for Roth contribution withdrawals, only Part 3 was needed and explained why Parts 1 and 2 could be left blank. Saved me from making mistakes and potentially getting flagged for an audit. Their explanations were much clearer than what I found on the IRS website, and they even showed example forms for my exact situation.

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Sophia Nguyen

•8M

Yes, the tool works with pretty much all tax forms including 1099s and Schedule C. It doesn't just explain the forms - it actually analyzes your specific documents and tells you what you need to fill out based on your situation. It's like having a tax pro look over your shoulder but without the hourly fees. Regarding security concerns, I was skeptical too at first. They use bank-level encryption for document uploads and don't store your sensitive info after analysis. They explain their security measures on their site, which made me feel comfortable enough to try it. Plus, you can block out your SSN on documents if you're still concerned.

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Isabella Brown

•8M

I want to update everyone - I decided to try taxr.ai despite my initial skepticism, and wow, it was actually super helpful! I had a complicated situation with both traditional and Roth IRA distributions this year, and it immediately clarified which parts of Form 8606 I needed to complete. The tool highlighted exactly which boxes needed my attention and explained the reasoning behind leaving certain sections blank. It also caught a mistake I was about to make with reporting my basis incorrectly. Definitely saved me from a potential audit headache. What impressed me most was how it explained everything in plain English instead of tax jargon. For anyone confused about Form 8606 or really any tax form, it's worth checking out. Wish I'd known about this years ago!

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Maya Patel

•8M

If you're having trouble figuring out the right way to fill out your 8606, you might also run into issues if you need to call the IRS for clarification. I tried calling them 9 times over 3 weeks about this exact issue last year and could never get through. I finally used this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed that for Roth contribution withdrawals, you only need to fill out Part 3 of Form 8606 and can leave Parts 1 and 2 blank. They also explained how to properly document that these were contribution withdrawals in case of future questions. Saved me so much stress compared to trying to interpret the instructions on my own.

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Maya Patel

•8M

It's not a priority service - they use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they reach a real person, you get a call connecting you directly to the agent. It's basically like having someone wait on hold so you don't have to. I was super skeptical too, but it actually works. The reason everyone doesn't use it is probably because they don't know about it. I only found it after complaining to a friend who works in tax preparation. The IRS doesn't shut it down because it's not doing anything wrong - it's just an automated hold system that follows the normal process, just with technology handling the wait time.

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Emma Garcia

•8M

Alright I need to eat my words. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to the IRS about my Roth IRA issues, so I tried Claimyr anyway. I'm honestly shocked - it actually worked exactly as advertised. After failing to get through for weeks on my own, I was connected to an IRS rep in about 25 minutes. The agent confirmed that for my Roth contribution withdrawals, I only needed to complete Part 3 of Form 8606 and could leave Parts 1-2 blank. They also explained how to properly document my contribution history to support my position that the withdrawals were non-taxable. Saved me from making a costly mistake on my return AND from wasting more hours on hold.

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Ava Kim

•8M

Something to consider - even though you technically only need to fill out Part 3, I usually fill in zeros for the lines in Parts 1 and 2 that don't apply to me rather than leaving them completely blank. My accountant friend told me that completely blank sections can sometimes trigger additional scrutiny, while zeros clearly show you didn't skip anything by accident. Probably doesn't matter much either way, but thought I'd share what I've been doing for years without any issues.

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Ava Kim

•8M

You just put a zero in each box, no calculations needed for parts that don't apply to your situation. It's just to show you didn't accidentally skip that section. I've never been audited specifically about my Roth IRA withdrawals. I did get a general review letter once about three years ago, but it was about something completely different (they questioned some business deductions). My Roth withdrawal reporting with the zeros-not-blanks approach has never been flagged in the 12 years I've been doing it this way.

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