Understanding Your 1099-R Tax Form
The 1099-R tax form reports the amount of income you received during the tax year. The form contains boxes you will need to use to complete your federal and state tax returns. The 1099-R tax forms are mailed by the end of January each year and available to access and download online by logging in to myCalPERS.
Here’s a detailed description of the information you’ll be provided:
Boxes
This is the total dollar amount of the benefits you received before any deductions were withheld.
This shows the amount of your benefits that are taxable.
An “X” is present if benefit payments started July 2, 1986, through December 31, 1986, when federal and state law were using two different methods for determining the taxability of benefits.
An "X" indicates the recipient received the entire amount of the death benefit lump sum distribution.
This amount represents the portion of a taxable death benefit lump sum distribution that is subject to capital gains treatment.
This is the amount of federal income tax that was withheld from your gross distribution.
This is the annual tax-free amount of your benefit. This is based upon contributions or payments you made to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) while working, if any.
This code indicates the type of benefit being reported to IRS:
| Distribution Code | Benefit Type |
|---|---|
| 1 | Early distribution, no known exception: Partial service retirement distribution being paid to a member who is under age 59 1/2 on December 31 of the tax year being reported. |
| 2 | Early distribution, exception applies: Service retirement or pre-retirement death benefit distribution being paid to a member who is under 59 1/2 on December 31 of the tax year being reported. |
| 3 | Disability retirement or pre-retirement special death distribution. |
| 4 | Death benefit lump sum (or 1959 survivor rollover) distribution made to a decedent's beneficiary or survivor, including their trust or estate. |
| 4a | Indicates the amount reported is a death benefit lump sum distribution which may be eligible for the 10-year tax option method of computing the tax. |
| 4b |
Indicates the amount reported is a death benefit lump sum distribution which may be subject to the death benefit exclusion Note: The death benefit exclusion was repealed for death dates after August 20, 1996. |
| 4c | Indicates the amount reported is a death benefit lump sum distribution which may be eligible for taxability provisions under distribution codes 4a and 4b. |
| 4g | Indicates the amount reported is a death benefit distribution which was a direct rollover distribution to a tax-sheltered annuity or an individual retirement account (IRA). |
| G | Direct rollover of a distribution to a qualified plan or an IRA. |
| 7 | Normal distribution. Service retirement or pre-retirement death monthly benefit distribution being paid to a participant who is at least 59 1/2 on December 31 of the tax year being reported. |
This indicates what percentage of the entire benefit you received when a death benefit lump sum distribution is paid to more than one beneficiary. We can’t divulge the names of any other beneficiaries who may have received a portion of the benefit.
If you received the entire distribution, there will be an "X" in Box 2b.
This is the total amount of California state income tax that was withheld from your gross distribution.
This is the mailing address that we currently have on file for you as of December 31. If you’d like to verify your address, log in to myCalPERS. If you don’t have an account yet, visit using myCalPERS to find out how to register.
If present, this represents a unique number provided to the IRS for account-processing purposes.
Disclaimer
This information isn't intended as tax advice. For more information, contact a professional tax adviser, the Internal Revenue Service or California Franchise Tax Board.
Taxes
- Changing Your Tax Withholding
- Understanding Your 1099-R Tax Form
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I get an expedited copy of my tax form from a CalPERS Regional Office?
Our Regional Offices are unable to provide you with duplicate or replacement copies. However, you can view your tax statement online by logging in to my|CalPERS.
- My tax form doesn't show anything in Box 5. What does that mean?
Box 5 is blank because of any of the following reasons:
- The contributions that were deducted during employment were paid before taxes (pretax contributions). Since no taxes were paid on them at that time, your benefit is fully taxable.
- You have already used up the total previously taxed contributions in prior tax years. Your allowance is now fully taxable.
-
You, or the CalPERS member you're receiving a benefit from, retired under the Second Tier and did not pay any contributions while working.
- What if I haven't received my tax form from CalPERS?
Your 1099R tax form is mailed to the address we have on record. If you've moved, contact us with your new address. If you haven't received your form by February 1, you can view your tax statement online at my|CalPERS or contact us to request a duplicate or replacement 1099R tax form.
- Why is there a difference between Box 1 and Box 2a on my tax form?
The gross distribution (Box 1) and the taxable amount (Box 2a) can differ for either of the following reasons:
- There is an amount present in Box 5, which is non-taxable.
- This is an Industrial Death benefit or an Industrial Disability Retirement benefit with an excess income taxable percentage. The amount in Box 2a represents the taxable amount of Box 1, which has been further reduced by the amount in Box 5, if any.