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Natasha Volkov

Two years of backdoor Roth IRA contributions showing on single 1099-R form - how to properly file?

I just got super confused with my taxes because I made backdoor Roth IRA contributions for two different tax years but they're all showing up on one form. In 2021, I made separate $7.5k backdoor Roth contributions - one for 2020 and another for 2021 tax years. But now I've received a single 1099-R form showing a total of $15k (combining both years' contributions). How do I properly report this in TurboTax so I don't end up getting taxed on the full $15k as if it was all income for one year? I need to make sure the IRS understands that this represents backdoor Roth contributions for two separate tax years (2020 and 2021). I'm worried about getting hit with unnecessary taxes or penalties if I don't file this correctly! Any advice on how to handle this in TurboTax would be really appreciated. I've tried looking through their help section but couldn't find anything specifically about reporting multi-year backdoor Roth contributions that appear on a single 1099-R. Thanks in advance!

Javier Torres

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This is a common situation with backdoor Roth IRA contributions. The 1099-R form is showing the total distributions from your traditional IRA, not your taxable income. Here's how to handle it in TurboTax: When you enter the 1099-R information, TurboTax will ask you about the purpose of the distribution. You'll need to indicate that these were conversions to a Roth IRA. Then TurboTax should prompt you with questions about your basis (non-deductible contributions). This is where you'll enter your Form 8606 information for both tax years. Make sure you have your 2020 Form 8606 information available, as you'll need to reference your non-deductible contribution amount from that year. Each year's contribution should have its own Form 8606, even though they're showing up on one 1099-R. The key is properly documenting your basis so you're only taxed on any earnings between contribution and conversion, not on the contribution amounts themselves.

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Thanks for this explanation. So if I understand correctly, I need to find my 2020 Form 8606 and have that information ready when I'm going through TurboTax? I'm still a bit confused though - will TurboTax allow me to split the $15k reported on the 1099-R into the separate years' contributions, or do I need to somehow tell it that $7.5k was for 2020 and $7.5k was for 2021?

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Javier Torres

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You won't need to split the distribution on the 1099-R itself. TurboTax will use the total amount from the 1099-R, but when you complete Form 8606 for 2021, you'll include information about your basis (non-deductible contributions) from both years. For the 2021 tax return, you'll need to report the entire $15k distribution but you'll also report your total non-deductible contributions of $15k, which means the taxable portion would be zero (assuming there were no earnings between contribution and conversion). The Form 8606 is the key document that tracks your basis and shows the IRS that you shouldn't be taxed on those funds again.

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Emma Wilson

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I was in the exact same boat last year and found a great solution with taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). I also had multiple backdoor Roth conversions show up on a single 1099-R and was completely confused about how to report it properly in my tax software. What I really liked about taxr.ai is that they analyzed my 1099-R and previous 8606 forms, then explained exactly which numbers needed to go where in TurboTax. They showed me how to properly document my basis so I wasn't double-taxed on those contributions. Their system specifically recognized my backdoor Roth situation and walked me through the exact screens in TurboTax I needed to navigate. The guidance was super specific to backdoor Roth reporting issues, which regular tax software help sections just don't cover well.

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QuantumLeap

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Did it actually work with TurboTax specifically? I'm using TurboTax too and wondering if their instructions will match up with the TurboTax interface. Also, how detailed was their guidance - did they actually show screenshots of what to click?

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Malik Johnson

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I'm a bit skeptical about using yet another service just to figure out how to enter info in TurboTax. Couldn't you just call TurboTax support directly? Seems like they should be able to help with this kind of thing without needing to sign up for something else.

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Emma Wilson

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Yes, it worked perfectly with TurboTax! They provided step-by-step instructions that matched exactly with TurboTax's interface, including which screens to navigate to and which options to select for backdoor Roth contributions. I tried TurboTax support first but the representatives I spoke with weren't very familiar with backdoor Roth reporting, especially with multiple years on one form. With taxr.ai, I uploaded my forms and got specific guidance tailored to my situation. Their instructions were clearer than anything I found elsewhere, and they saved me from potentially reporting it incorrectly.

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QuantumLeap

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I just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. It was exactly what I needed! I had almost the same situation with backdoor Roth contributions from multiple years on a single 1099-R, and their analysis showed me exactly how to handle it in TurboTax. They identified that I needed to reference my previous year's Form 8606 and showed me which screens in TurboTax to navigate to properly document my basis. The step-by-step guidance was really clear, and I'm confident I reported everything correctly now. Much better than the generic advice I was finding elsewhere! Really glad I gave it a try instead of potentially misreporting my backdoor Roth conversions.

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I had a similar issue and spent HOURS trying to get through to the IRS for clarification. After being on hold forever and getting disconnected multiple times, I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes who walked me through how to properly report multiple year backdoor Roth contributions on a single 1099-R. The IRS agent explained exactly how Form 8606 handles this situation and confirmed I wouldn't be double-taxed as long as I documented everything correctly. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Before using Claimyr, I was going in circles trying to get clear answers about backdoor Roth reporting. Getting direct confirmation from the IRS gave me peace of mind that I was handling this correctly.

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Ravi Sharma

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How does this service actually work? I'm confused about how they can get you through to the IRS faster than calling directly. The IRS phone system is a nightmare - I've tried calling multiple times about my backdoor Roth questions too.

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Malik Johnson

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This sounds too good to be true. I've been trying to talk to someone at the IRS for weeks about my Roth conversion issues. You're telling me this service somehow magically gets you through when millions of others can't get past the hold music? I'm extremely skeptical.

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The service basically keeps dialing the IRS for you using their system until they get through, then they call you once they have an agent on the line. It's not magic - they're just automating the painful part of getting through the phone tree and waiting on hold. It worked surprisingly well. I had been trying to reach the IRS for days about my backdoor Roth situation without success. With Claimyr, I put in my number, they called me back in about 15 minutes with an IRS agent already on the line. The agent was able to check my previous year's records and confirm exactly how to report multiple-year contributions on one 1099-R.

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Malik Johnson

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I need to apologize and update everyone. After being skeptical about Claimyr, I decided to try it anyway out of desperation (been trying to resolve my Roth conversion issues for weeks). It actually worked! I got connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes who was knowledgeable about backdoor Roth contributions. The agent confirmed I needed to reference my previous year's Form 8606 and explained exactly how to report the basis correctly when multiple years appear on one 1099-R. What impressed me most was how much time it saved - I had previously spent over 4 hours on multiple calls trying to get through. The agent even looked up my previous year's filing to make sure everything would match up correctly. Completely worth it for the peace of mind alone.

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Freya Larsen

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Just to add another approach - I had this exact issue last year and ended up consulting with a CPA who specializes in retirement accounts. He said the key document is Form 8606, which tracks your non-deductible contributions. For TurboTax specifically, when you enter the 1099-R, make sure to select that this was a conversion to a Roth IRA. Then, when it asks about your basis, you'll need to reference both your 2020 and 2021 Form 8606 information. The CPA emphasized that keeping good records of your Form 8606 from each year is crucial for backdoor Roth strategies. Also, don't panic if TurboTax initially shows tax due on the full amount - once you complete the Form 8606 section properly, it should adjust to show the correct taxable amount (which should be minimal or zero if you did direct conversions without much time for earnings).

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Did your CPA mention if there's any specific documentation I should keep besides the Form 8606 and the 1099-R? I'm worried about getting audited and not having enough proof that these were legitimate backdoor Roth contributions for two different tax years.

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Freya Larsen

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He recommended keeping documentation of the original traditional IRA contributions for both years, as well as documentation of the conversions to Roth. This would include account statements showing the contributions going into the traditional IRA and then the subsequent transfers to the Roth IRA. It's also helpful to keep any confirmation emails or transaction receipts from your financial institution that might specify the tax year for each contribution. The more documentation you have showing the clear trail of money from contribution to conversion for each tax year, the better position you'll be in if there are any questions.

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Omar Hassan

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Has anyone actually gotten audited over backdoor Roth contributions? I'm in the same boat with multiple years showing on one 1099-R and now I'm worried. Should I be concerned about red flags if I report this as described above?

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Chloe Taylor

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I'm a tax preparer and while I can't speak to individual audit risk, backdoor Roth conversions themselves aren't audit triggers when properly documented. The key is consistency between your Form 8606 history and what you report. The most common issue I see is people forgetting they need to file Form 8606 in the year they make the non-deductible traditional IRA contribution, even if they don't convert it to a Roth until the following year. As long as you've been filing Form 8606 each year and can show the paper trail, you should be fine.

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ShadowHunter

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I went through this exact same situation last year and want to share what worked for me. The key thing to understand is that the 1099-R is just reporting the total distribution amount - it's not determining your taxable income. Here's what I did in TurboTax step by step: 1. Enter the 1099-R as a Roth conversion (not a regular distribution) 2. When TurboTax asks about your basis, you'll need your Form 8606 from 2020 AND the one you'll file for 2021 3. The 2021 Form 8606 will show your total basis from both years ($15k in your case) 4. This should result in zero or minimal taxable income since you're converting non-deductible contributions The critical part is making sure you filed Form 8606 for 2020 when you made that contribution. If you didn't file it, you might need to amend your 2020 return first. Also, keep excellent records - bank statements showing the contributions, conversion confirmations, and all your Form 8606s. The IRS wants to see a clear paper trail that these were legitimate backdoor Roth strategies, not attempts to avoid taxes on deductible IRA contributions. Don't stress too much about the single 1099-R - this is actually pretty common when conversions happen across calendar years but get processed together.

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Amina Sow

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This is really helpful, thank you! I'm new to backdoor Roth conversions and this whole process seems overwhelming. One question - you mentioned that I need to make sure I filed Form 8606 for 2020 when I made that contribution. How do I check if I actually filed it? I honestly can't remember if I did or not, and I'm worried I might have missed it. If I didn't file it, how complicated is it to amend my 2020 return? I'm trying to avoid making this more complicated than it needs to be, but I definitely want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly.

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