https://accountants.intuit.com/support/en-us/help-article/retirement-benefits/common-questions-form-...

scroll down to Where do I enter starting basis for Roth and traditional IRAs

1. From the Input Return tab, click Deductions on the left-side menu.
2. From the Deductions submenu, select Adjustments to Income.
3. Scroll down to the Traditional IRA section and enter the appropriate information in the following:

   • Form 8606 (Part I)

   • Enter the taxpayer and spouse's basis in Traditional IRAs at the beginning of the current year in the Form 8606 (Part I) subsection under IRS basis for 20XX and earlier years. If nondeductible contributions are made in the current year, and distributions are also taken, the program prints this amount on line 1 of the IRS Pub 590 worksheet.

     Form 8606 (Part III)

   • Enter the taxpayer or spouse  basis in Roth IRA Conversions in the Roth IRA: Form 8606 (Part III) subsection under Basis in Roth IRA Conversions as of 12/31/20XX.  If the taxpayer receives a Roth IRA distribution in the current year, the basis amount entered prints on Form 8606, page 2, line 24. If the taxpayer did not receive a Roth IRA distribution in the current year, page 2 will not be generated. The program, however, will retain the basis and proforma it to next year, increasing it by any additional Roth IRA conversions made in the current year. The program prints a Roth IRA Basis Schedule with the Worksheets.
   • Enter the taxpayer and spouse's basis in Roth IRAs at the beginning of the current year in the Roth IRA: Form 8606 (Part III) subsection under Basis in Roth IRA Contributions as of 12/31/20YY. If the taxpayer receives a Roth IRA distribution in the current year, the basis amount entered prints on Form 8606, page 2, line 22.  If the taxpayer did not receive a Roth IRA distribution in current year, page 2 will not be generated. The program, however, will retain the basis and proforma it to next year, increasing it by any additional Roth IRA contributions made in the current year. The program prints a Roth IRA Basis Schedule with the worksheets.

And a lot of regular IRAs have no basis.

@Austin_Cat ProConnect does not recognize ZERO. If you want ZERO then you use NEGATIVE ONE (-1)

That is pretty universal through this program. 

Thank you. I understand the technical details but not what the IRS requires. This is more along the lines of the answer I'm looking for. I don't think they technically require the basis or otherwise we would get a critical diagnostic, correct?

Correct.

Basis is only relevant for:

Nondeductible IRA contributions

Distributions from an account where there is basis.

A little trick with ProConnect is to view the form when you Check Return. If the box or line is shaded blue, you can click on that shaded area and it will take you to the input. (equivalent to right click & Jump to Input with Lacerte)

much appreciated, thanks for your time!