1099-R shows 20 digit account number but system only accepts 17 - what am I doing wrong?

Tax preparer here! This is actually a pretty common issue. The 20-digit number you're seeing on your 1099-R from Fidelity is likely a combination of your actual account number plus some internal coding Fidelity uses for their own records. For tax filing purposes, you generally don't need to enter the full 20-digit number. You have a few options: 1) Try entering just the last 17 digits of the account number 2) If your tax software has a field specifically for "payer's account number," that's where this would go, but it's primarily for the IRS's reference 3) Some tax software doesn't actually require this field to be filled in at all to complete your return The critical information on your 1099-R is the distribution amount, the taxable amount, and any withholding. The account number is mainly used for verification purposes if there's ever a question about the form.

I had a similar issue last year and discovered that taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) was super helpful for this exact problem. I uploaded my 1099-R from Fidelity and their system flagged the account number issue right away. Their analysis showed that for Fidelity specifically, you should use the last 17 digits of the account number when entering it into tax software. Apparently, the first 3 digits are just internal classification codes Fidelity uses. The tool also confirmed this is a common issue with several financial institutions that use longer reference numbers than tax systems can accept.

Just wanted to follow up - I ended up trying taxr.ai after posting my skeptical comment. Pretty impressed actually. Uploaded my 1099-R from Vanguard (after redacting some personal info just to be safe) and it immediately identified the correct sequence of numbers to use. The system even explained that for Vanguard specifically, the first 4 digits are internal tracking codes and shouldn't be entered in most tax software. Saved me a bunch of trial and error! The document analysis also caught a couple other things I would have missed about the distribution code and its tax implications. Definitely made the whole process easier than my usual guesswork approach.

If you need to talk to Fidelity directly about this but can't get through their phone system (which is notoriously backed up this time of year), I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was dealing with a similar 1099-R issue where I needed clarification but kept getting stuck in phone queue hell. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c to see how it works. Basically, they get you through the hold queue and connect you with an actual rep. I used it to reach Fidelity's tax form department and had the account number situation explained directly. The rep confirmed that only certain digits of the account number are needed for tax purposes, and clarified exactly which ones I should be using.

I need to eat my words here. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr as a last resort because I'd been trying to reach Fidelity for THREE DAYS about my 1099-R issues. Not gonna lie, I'm shocked. The service got me through to a Fidelity tax specialist in about 35 minutes when I couldn't get past the automated system for days. The rep confirmed exactly what others here said - only a portion of the 20-digit account number is needed for tax purposes (the last 17 in most cases). The call saved me hours of frustration and potentially filing incorrect info. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing!

I work for a different financial institution (not Fidelity) and I can tell you this is a common issue. Most tax software and IRS systems were designed with field limitations that don't always match what financial institutions use internally. For 1099-Rs specifically, we often include our full internal reference numbers which can exceed the IRS character limits. As others have said, typically using the last 17 digits is fine. If you're still concerned, you could call Fidelity directly to confirm, but I'm almost certain they'll tell you the same thing.

Has anyone had success with just omitting the account number entirely? I'm using FreeTaxUSA and it seems to let me leave that field blank without generating any errors.

I had this exact same issue with my Fidelity 1099-R last year! The 20-digit account number drove me crazy until I figured out what was happening. What worked for me was using only the last 17 digits when entering it into my tax software (I use H&R Block online). The way I think about it is that Fidelity includes their internal routing/classification codes at the beginning of the account number, but for tax purposes you only need the actual account identifier portion. I called Fidelity's tax line to confirm this approach and they said it was correct. One thing I'd suggest - if you're really worried about it, you can always attach a statement to your return explaining that you truncated the account number due to system limitations. But honestly, I don't think it's necessary. The IRS is used to dealing with this kind of formatting issue between different financial institutions. Good luck with your filing, and congrats on the new home!