Updated September 29, 2026. Quick answer: Box 7 of Form 5498 says what type of IRA the form is about. One box is checked for a traditional IRA, SEP or SIMPLE IRA, or a Roth IRA, and two boxes are checked together for a Roth SEP IRA or a Roth SIMPLE IRA.
What the checkboxes do
Box 7 is a set of checkboxes, so it is easy to misread when only some are marked. The instructions read here are the 2026 edition of the IRS Instructions for Forms 1099-R and 5498, which cover Form 5498 for 2026 and are written for the IRA trustee or issuer that files it. The instruction to the trustee is: “Check the appropriate box.” The table below gives each case.
The six cases
| Box 7 checkbox | Account type | What the IRS instructions say |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Traditional IRA | Used “if you are filing Form 5498 to report information about a traditional IRA account” |
| SEP | SEP IRA | Used “if you are filing Form 5498 to report information about a SEP IRA”. When the trustee is unsure, the IRS says “If you do not know whether the account is a SEP IRA”, the trustee checks the IRA box |
| SIMPLE | SIMPLE IRA | Used “if you are filing Form 5498 to report information about a SIMPLE IRA account”. The IRS adds “Do not file Form 5498 for a SIMPLE 401(k) plan.” |
| Roth IRA | Roth IRA | Used “if you are filing Form 5498 to report information about a Roth IRA account” |
| SEP and Roth IRA | Roth SEP IRA | Both boxes are checked “if you are filing Form 5498 to report information about a Roth SEP IRA” |
| SIMPLE and Roth IRA | Roth SIMPLE IRA | Both boxes are checked “if you are filing Form 5498 to report information about a Roth SIMPLE IRA” |
Why the type matters for other boxes
The type of account decides where contributions are reported. A SEP IRA’s employer contributions go in Box 8, a SIMPLE IRA’s in Box 9, and Roth IRA contributions in Box 10, all covered on the Boxes 8, 9 and 10 page.
Common mistakes
- Reading a checked SEP box as a Roth account. A Roth SEP IRA has both SEP and Roth IRA checked.
- Expecting a SIMPLE 401(k) plan to appear here. The instructions say not to file Form 5498 for one.
- Assuming a checked IRA box means the account was funded this year. The box only identifies the type of account.
Related: Form 5498 Boxes 8, 9 and 10: SEP, SIMPLE and Roth, and Form 5498 Box 1: IRA Contributions Explained.
Every box in one place: the Form 5498 boxes table. A withdrawal from an IRA is reported on Form 1099-R instead; see the Form 1099-R Box 7 codes.
Figures verified against the IRS Instructions for Forms 1099-R and 5498 (2026) and the Form 5498 participant copy (2026) on September 30, 2026. The IRS did not yet list a 2027 edition.
Sources
- IRS, Instructions for Forms 1099-R and 5498 (2026): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099r.pdf
- IRS, Form 5498, IRA Contribution Information (2026), participant copy: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5498.pdf
- IRS, About Form 5498: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-5498
Source: the IRS instructions for the filer of Form 5498, read at irs.gov on September 29, 2026. General information, not tax advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and a preparer, the account provider or the IRS is the right place to confirm anything consequential.