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Pro tip: set up informed delivery with USPS so you know exactly when that check hits your mailbox
good idea! signing up rn
I went through this exact same situation last year. The 2-4 week timeline is pretty accurate, but here's what helped me: I called the IRS customer service line (1-800-829-1040) about 10 days after my deposit was rejected and they were able to confirm that my paper check had been processed and give me a rough mailing date. Also double-check that your address on file with the IRS matches exactly what you have with USPS - even small differences can cause delays. Hang in there, the check will come!
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now with my late father's estate. One thing I learned that might help - even though your mom's assets were distributed through beneficiary designations, the IRS can still pursue what's called "transferee liability" against the beneficiaries if there were unpaid taxes at the time of transfer. The key is getting proper authorization to deal with the IRS on her behalf. Form 56 is definitely the right path, but make sure you're sending it to the correct IRS processing center for your state. I made the mistake of sending it to the wrong location initially and it delayed everything by months. Also, document everything with the IRS phone calls - dates, times, agent names/ID numbers. The inconsistent information you're getting is unfortunately typical, but having records helps if you need to escalate later. You might also want to request a manager or supervisor when you call back, as they tend to be more knowledgeable about deceased taxpayer procedures. The $12,300 won't just disappear, but you do have options for penalty abatement and possibly even an offer in compromise if the total distributed assets were less than the tax debt. Don't let the interest and penalties keep accumulating while you're stuck in this bureaucratic maze.
This is really helpful advice, especially about documenting the phone calls. I've been dealing with something similar and the IRS agents have given me completely contradictory information multiple times. Having those records saved me when I had to escalate to a supervisor who was able to see the pattern of misinformation I was getting from regular agents. One thing to add - when you do get Form 56 processed, make sure you get a confirmation letter from the IRS acknowledging your fiduciary status. Without that letter, some agents will still refuse to discuss the account even after the form is on file. It's frustrating but seems to be standard procedure.
I went through this exact nightmare when my grandmother passed in 2022. The IRS bureaucracy around deceased taxpayers is absolutely maddening, but here's what finally worked: First, you're right that the tax liability doesn't just disappear. Since your mom's assets were distributed through beneficiary designations, you and your siblings could potentially be liable as transferees if the IRS can prove the tax debt existed when you received the assets (which it sounds like it did). The Form 56 route is correct, but here's the key - you need to establish yourself as the "informal fiduciary" since no formal estate was opened. Include a cover letter explaining that all assets were distributed via beneficiary designations and that you're acting on behalf of the deceased taxpayer to resolve outstanding tax matters. Also, when you call the IRS, specifically ask for the "Deceased Taxpayer" unit - don't let them transfer you to general collections. The regular agents literally don't have training on these situations, which explains the ridiculous advice about getting a power of attorney from a dead person. Once you get Form 56 processed, you can request penalty abatement for reasonable cause (accountant error) and potentially set up a payment plan if needed. The actual tax plus interest will likely still be due, but you can eliminate the penalties which are usually a big chunk of these bills. Don't ignore this - the IRS has up to 10 years to collect and can absolutely pursue transferee liability against beneficiaries. Better to deal with it now before more penalties and interest accumulate.
have you tried checking your transcripts with taxr.ai? helped me understand why mine was stuck
I got the 4464C letter back in January for my 2023 return. They were reviewing my EITC claim since I had a new dependent. Took about 82 days total but I finally got my refund last week! The waiting is brutal but hang in there. One thing that helped was setting up informed delivery so I could see if any mail was coming from the IRS without having to wait for it to actually arrive.
82 days is rough but at least you got it! I'm worried mine might take even longer since it's for 2022 taxes. Did you get any updates on your transcript during those 82 days or did it just randomly show up?
@Tyler Lefleur That s'actually really encouraging to hear! 82 days seems more manageable when you know there s'light at the end of the tunnel. Quick question - did your transcript show any movement during those 82 days or did everything just update all at once when they finished the review?
Just a heads up - if you end up filing without the official 1099-B, make sure you check the box on Form 8949 that indicates you're reporting transactions that weren't reported to you on a 1099-B. This lets the IRS know you're being transparent about not having the official form. Also, document EVERYTHING. Download your transaction history from Robinhood NOW, before it potentially disappears from your easy access. Take screenshots of your attempts to contact them. If there's ever an audit question, you want to show you made every effort to get the correct documents.
I work in tax preparation and see this Robinhood issue frequently. Here's what you need to know from a professional perspective: 1. **You MUST report all stock sales regardless of receiving a 1099-B.** The IRS requires you to report capital gains/losses even without the form. 2. **Robinhood's delay might be legitimate.** Complex situations like wash sales, corporate actions, or basis adjustments can delay forms until March 15th. 3. **For immediate action:** Download your complete transaction history from Robinhood (Account ā Statements ā Activity). This will have all your trades with dates, quantities, and prices. 4. **Calculate manually if needed:** Use FIFO (First In, First Out) method unless you specifically elected otherwise. Your proceeds minus your cost basis equals your gain/loss. 5. **Don't forget dividends:** Even $10+ in dividends must be reported. Check if you received a 1099-DIV or if it's combined with other forms. The key is accurate reporting with proper documentation. I've helped clients through IRS correspondence when brokers were late with forms, and as long as you report everything accurately and keep records, you'll be fine. Consider filing an extension if you're uncomfortable proceeding without the official form.
This is really helpful professional advice, thank you! I have a quick question about the FIFO method - if I bought the same stock multiple times at different prices throughout the year, do I need to track each individual purchase separately? Or can I just average out the cost basis? I'm worried about making mistakes with the calculations since I made quite a few trades.
Isaac Wright
Has anyone used TurboTax for this situation? I have the same 1099-R code 1B issue and wondering if TurboTax handles this exception correctly or if I need to override something.
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Lucy Taylor
ā¢I used TurboTax last year with a code 1B distribution. It handled it correctly once I answered all the questions about the distribution. When it asked if this was an early distribution subject to penalty, I said yes, and then it applied the exception automatically and didn't generate a separate 5329 form. Just make sure you have the actual 1099-R in front of you when answering the questions so you can enter the exact code and amounts.
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Isaac Wright
ā¢That's really helpful, thanks! I was worried I might need to manually override something, but sounds like it should work if I just follow the prompts and enter everything correctly. Will definitely have my 1099-R on hand when I get to that section.
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Sofia Morales
I just went through this exact situation with my 2024 tax return! I had a 1099-R with code 1B for about $8,000 that I withdrew early from my 401k. Like you, I was confused about whether I needed to file Form 5329 separately. After researching and double-checking with the IRS instructions, I can confirm that code 1B is indeed treated the same as code 1 for the Schedule 2 line 8 exception. Since you already had the 10% penalty withheld when you took the distribution, you can simply report it on your 1040 and use the exception to avoid filing the separate 5329 form. The key is making sure your tax software correctly identifies that the penalty was already withheld and applies the exception. Most major tax software should handle this automatically when you enter the 1099-R information, but it's worth double-checking that Schedule 2 line 8 shows the correct penalty amount. One tip: keep good records of your 1099-R and any documentation about the penalty withholding, just in case the IRS has questions later. But you should be all set without the extra paperwork!
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Jamal Wilson
ā¢This is really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through the same thing! I was getting nervous about making the wrong choice since tax mistakes can be expensive. Your point about keeping good records is spot on - I've already scanned and saved my 1099-R and all the documentation from when I took the withdrawal. Did your tax software automatically populate Schedule 2 line 8 with the penalty amount, or did you have to manually enter anything? I'm using FreeTaxUSA and want to make sure I don't miss any steps in the process.
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