While it is important to review all of the boxes on the form, you should be most concerned about the entries in boxes 1, 2a, 2b, 4, 5, 7, and the little box (next to box 7) that indicates if this is an IRA/SEP/SIMPLE payment.

Some Forms 1099-R may not look like the one shown in the example on this screen. Some payers receive permission to customize the form. In all cases, the box numbers will remain the same.