1099-R w/ employee contributions

[indyscott]

My taxpayer who received a civil service annuity in which he had paid in contributions would normally have amortized those contributions using the worksheet with those actuarial tables on it, except he died last year, so I assume I can take the entire unused contributions amount on this return, right?

[OldJack]

My taxpayer who received a civil service annuity in which he had paid in contributions would normally have amortized those contributions using the worksheet with those actuarial tables on it, except he died last year, so I assume I can take the entire unused contributions amount on this return, right?

Probably not right. As indicated by the fact that this is reported on a 1099-R meaning this is a form of taxable retirement benefit. Such benefit is taxable as received by a beneficiary or the estate and such tax attributes pass or continue which means nothing has changed except the name of the person to receive future payments and tax liability.