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January 16, 2025
Question

1099-R Box 14a won't let me file: "New York State withholdings can not be greater than or equal to gross distribution or state distribution." How to get around this?

  • January 16, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 0 views
Not sure what this means. My gross is about 12k from early IRA distributions, I withheld 950 for Fed and 150 for NY State, clearly 150 is less than 950... I remember getting this last year but after going thru the error review 100 times I somehow managed to push it through, this year I can't seem to figure it out.

    2 replies

    SteamTrain
    Employee
    January 16, 2025

    It's box 16 that must be higher than box 14.

     

    The vast majority of 1099-R forms are issued with box 16 being empty...but NY insists that a number be in that box, that is IF box 14 has a value.   Sometimes it is backfilled when you answer the follow-up questions after the main form...but I'm not sure what follow-up questions are presented for NY residents.

     

    Anyhow, many respondents indicate that the $$ amount in box 1 should be copied by you into box 16 for the software form to clear the error.  That's OK if box 1 is the same $$ amount as box 2a.  BUT, I usually point to box 2a, because box 2a "can" be lower than box 1 for certain situations.  But if box 2a is empty, then the federally -taxable amount of box 1 must be determined and used for box 16....many times that just ends up being the same value as box 1, but not always.

    ____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*
    February 11, 2025

    Hello.  I tried what you recommended but I still cannot e-file.  Any ideas?  Thanks!

    February 12, 2025

    vjavaly:

     

    Did you do what SteamTrain suggested (fill in box 16 with box 1)? If you did, please tell us what happened/what error message you got when you tried to file.

     

    @vjavaly 

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    February 11, 2025

    Hello.  I have the same issue.  Did you ever get this resolved?  Thanks!