Can I leave boxes blank on Form 8606 Part 1 and 2 for Roth IRA withdrawals?
So I took some money out of my Roth IRAs earlier this year - all of it was just contributions I had put in, no earnings at all. Just straight up original money I contributed over the years. I'm working on my tax forms now and I'm looking at Form 8606. From what I understand, Part 3 is where you report Roth IRA distributions. But what about Parts 1 and 2? Since I'm only dealing with Roth contributions being withdrawn (no conversions, no traditional IRA stuff), can I just leave Parts 1 and 2 completely blank and only fill out Part 3? Or am I missing something that needs to go in those other sections? Just trying to make sure I don't mess this up and trigger some kind of audit nightmare. Thanks for any help!
19 comments
Join the conversation
Julia Hall
You're on the right track! Form 8606 is divided into parts that address different IRA situations. Since you're only withdrawing Roth IRA contributions (not earnings), you're correct that Part 3 is the section you need to complete. Parts 1 and 2 are for reporting nondeductible contributions to Traditional IRAs and distributions from those accounts, as well as conversions to Roth IRAs. If you haven't done any of those transactions, you can leave Parts 1 and 2 blank and only complete Part 3. Just make sure you keep good records showing that your withdrawals were only from contributions. The IRS follows ordering rules for Roth IRA distributions, with contributions coming out first (tax-free), followed by conversions, and then earnings. Your Form 5498 from previous years and account statements can help document your contribution history if needed.
0 coins
Arjun Patel
•Thanks for explaining! Quick follow-up question - do I need to submit any proof with my tax return showing that these were contributions only? My bank just sent me a 1099-R with code J, but it doesn't specifically say these were just contributions.
0 coins
Julia Hall
•You don't need to submit proof with your tax return. The 1099-R with code J indicates a distribution from a Roth IRA, but it doesn't specify whether it was contributions or earnings. That's what Form 8606 Part 3 is for - you'll calculate and report the taxable portion (which would be zero in your case). Just keep your records (contribution statements, previous Forms 5498, account statements) in your personal files. If you're ever audited, that's when you'd need to provide documentation proving these were contribution withdrawals only.
0 coins
Jade Lopez
After struggling with a similar Form 8606 situation last year, I found an awesome tool at https://taxr.ai that literally saved me hours of frustration. I was also withdrawing from my Roth IRA and wasn't sure which parts to fill out. The tool analyzed my previous tax returns and financial docs, then showed me exactly which lines needed to be completed on my 8606. It confirmed I could leave Parts 1 and 2 blank for my Roth withdrawal situation. What I really liked was how it tracked my contribution basis across multiple years - super helpful for proving my withdrawals were contribution-only.
0 coins
Tony Brooks
•How does it handle if you've made contributions to both traditional and Roth IRAs over the years? I've got a mess of different accounts and I'm never sure which parts of 8606 apply to me.
0 coins
Ella rollingthunder87
•Does it actually check your specific situation? I'm skeptical of these tax tools because they usually just give generic advice that you could find on the IRS website anyway.
0 coins
Jade Lopez
•It handles mixed contribution situations really well. You upload your documents and it automatically distinguishes between traditional and Roth contributions, then shows you which specific parts of Form 8606 need to be filled out based on your unique combination of accounts and transactions. For your specific question, it doesn't just give generic advice. It analyzes your actual tax documents and financial statements to identify your unique situation. It found some old Roth conversion entries in my 2019 return that I had completely forgotten about, which affected how I needed to report this year's withdrawals. Definitely more customized than just reading IRS instructions.
0 coins
Ella rollingthunder87
Ok so I was totally skeptical about taxr.ai but I gave it a shot with my complicated Roth/Traditional IRA mess. Holy crap it actually worked!! Uploaded my tax docs from past years and my recent 1099-R, and it mapped out exactly which boxes on 8606 I needed to fill out. Turns out I DID need to fill out part of Part 1 because of some backdoor Roth stuff I did years ago that I completely forgot about. Would have definitely messed up my return without realizing it. The contribution tracking feature is really helpful too - shows exactly how much I can withdraw tax-free. Wish I'd known about this tool sooner!
0 coins
Yara Campbell
If you're struggling to get answers directly from the IRS about your Form 8606 questions, I've had amazing success using https://claimyr.com to actually get through to a real person at the IRS. I spent WEEKS trying to call about a similar Roth IRA withdrawal question (parts of form 8606 I needed to complete). After trying the regular IRS number and getting nowhere, I tried Claimyr and their system got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 25 minutes! They walked me through exactly which parts of Form 8606 needed to be completed for my Roth withdrawal. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
0 coins
Isaac Wright
•How does this actually work? Do they just call for you or something? I'm confused how a third party service gets you through the IRS phone tree when I can't do it myself.
0 coins
Maya Diaz
•Yeah right. There's no way this actually works. The IRS phone system is deliberately designed to be impossible to navigate. If this actually worked everyone would be using it and the IRS would shut it down immediately.
0 coins
Yara Campbell
•They don't call for you - what they do is navigate the complex IRS phone system and hold your place in line. When they're about to connect with an agent, they call you and merge the calls. It's basically like having someone wait on hold for you, which is why it works so well. I was definitely skeptical too, but it absolutely works. The IRS doesn't shut it down because it's just using their existing phone system - there's nothing to shut down. It's just a smart solution to a broken system. They've helped over 100,000 people connect with the IRS. When you're desperate for answers about something like Form 8606 requirements and can't get through any other way, it's seriously worth trying.
0 coins
Maya Diaz
I take back everything I said. I was so frustrated trying to figure out my Form 8606 situation that I tried Claimyr as a last resort. I was SHOCKED when I actually got through to an IRS agent in about 30 minutes after trying for WEEKS on my own. The agent confirmed that for my Roth IRA withdrawals (contributions only), I could leave Parts 1 and 2 blank and just fill out Part 3. She even walked me through the calculations to make sure I was doing it right. Honestly never thought I'd get a real person on the phone who could answer my specific questions. Money well spent considering how much time I wasted trying to figure it out on my own.
0 coins
Tami Morgan
Just want to add - make sure you keep super detailed records if you're only withdrawing contributions from your Roth. The IRS ordering rules say contributions come out first (tax-free), then conversions, then earnings (taxable) - but YOU need to be able to prove those were just contributions if you get audited. I had a client who couldn't prove his Roth distributions were just contributions, and he ended up having to pay taxes and penalties because he couldn't produce the documentation. Track your basis carefully!
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•Thanks for this warning! I do have all my contribution statements saved, but how many years back should I keep them? I've been contributing to my Roth for about 8 years now.
0 coins
Tami Morgan
•You should ideally keep records for as long as you have the Roth IRA open. The IRS can theoretically audit you for any year if they suspect significant underreporting, though typically they're limited to 3-7 years for most situations. For Roth IRAs specifically, since the contributions you made 8 years ago could be what you're withdrawing today, you need documentation going all the way back to when you opened the account. Digital records are fine - scan those contribution confirmations and 5498 forms and keep them in secure cloud storage. If you're missing any, contact your IRA custodian as they may be able to provide historical records.
0 coins
Rami Samuels
Anyone else notice how confusing the IRS makes these forms? Like why do we even need Form 8606 for Roth contribution withdrawals when they're not taxable anyway? The whole system feels designed to trip us up!
0 coins
Haley Bennett
•Because the IRS doesn't know whether your distribution is contributions, conversions, or earnings without you telling them. That's what Form 8606 does - it helps you calculate and show which part of your distribution is taxable. Without it, they'd have to assume the worst (that it's all earnings).
0 coins
Douglas Foster
FYI - I accidentally left parts 1 and 2 blank on my Form 8606 last year for a similar Roth withdrawal situation, and never heard anything from the IRS. So at least anecdotally, if you're truly only withdrawing contributions, it seems to be ok. YMMV though!
0 coins