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Non-taxable distributions can still matter in some cases even with $0 in Box 2a. For example, if the money came from a Roth IRA, it could affect your basis calculations for future distributions. Might be worth checking with wherever the money came from to understand exactly what this distribution was.
I went through something very similar with a missed 1099-R from 2022. What really helped me was calling the plan administrator who issued the form - they were able to explain exactly what the distribution was for and confirm that it was indeed non-taxable. In my case, it was also Code E for a direct rollover between retirement accounts. Since Box 2a was $0, there was no tax impact, but I did end up filing an amended return just to be safe. The process was pretty straightforward once I got my tax transcript from the IRS website. One thing to consider: even though there's no immediate tax consequence, having this properly documented could be important for future reference, especially if you have other retirement account transactions. The IRS does match 1099-R forms to returns, so while they might not penalize you for a $0 taxable amount, they could send a notice asking about it. My amended return was processed in about 12 weeks with no issues. If you're really unsure, you could always consult with a tax professional - many will do a quick consultation for situations like this.
This is really helpful advice! I'm curious about the timeline - you mentioned your amended return was processed in 12 weeks. Did you get any confirmation from the IRS during that time, or did you just have to wait and hope everything went through okay? I'm nervous about filing an amendment and then not knowing if it was accepted properly.
Something nobody's mentioned - if you're going the quit claim deed route, don't DIY it! My sister tried that and messed up the deed language. Ended up costing way more to fix it than if she'd just hired a real estate attorney from the start. Around $500 for an attorney is worth it to make sure everything's done correctly.
Completely agree! My parents transferred property to me last year and we used an attorney who specialized in estate planning, not just a regular real estate lawyer. Made a huge difference because she caught several tax planning opportunities we would have missed. Well worth the $750 we paid.
One thing to consider that hasn't been fully explored is the timing aspect. If your parents are elderly or have health concerns, inheriting the property upon their passing would give you that stepped-up basis Dmitry mentioned, potentially saving you significant capital gains taxes later. However, if they're younger and healthy, the gift now might make more sense, especially since they can use their lifetime exemption ($13.61 million per person). Just remember that this exemption amount is set to decrease significantly after 2025 unless Congress acts. Another consideration: if you receive the property as a gift now, you'll need to maintain records of the original purchase price, any improvements made, and the fair market value at the time of transfer. This documentation will be crucial for calculating your basis when you eventually sell. Have you looked into whether a partial gift might work? For example, your parents could gift you a percentage of the property each year using their annual exclusions, gradually transferring ownership over time while minimizing gift tax implications.
The partial gift strategy is really interesting! I hadn't considered spreading the transfer over multiple years. Just to make sure I understand - would each parent be able to gift me $18,000 worth of property value annually (so $36,000 total per year between both parents), and we'd determine the percentage of ownership based on the current property value? So with a $610k property, that would be roughly 6% ownership transfer per year? That seems like it could work well if we're not in a rush, and it would avoid using up their lifetime exemption entirely. Do you know if there are any complications with having partial ownership during the transition period?
This is absolutely a red flag and you're right to be concerned. I work in banking compliance and can tell you that sharing login credentials violates virtually every bank's terms of service - if fraud occurs, your dad could be held liable since he willingly shared his access. The accountant's refusal to provide her SSN for read-only access is particularly suspicious. Licensed accountants routinely provide their SSN for client verification - it's standard practice. Her avoidance of this suggests she either isn't properly licensed or is trying to avoid creating an audit trail. Your dad should immediately: 1. Change his banking passwords 2. Set up read-only access through the bank's proper channels 3. If she still refuses, find a new accountant There are legitimate accounting software solutions that provide secure access without compromising bank credentials. Any accountant who insists on full login access in 2025 is either incompetent or potentially fraudulent. Trust your instincts on this one.
This is really helpful from a banking perspective. I'm curious - when you say "audit trail," what exactly would be tracked if she went through proper channels versus using shared credentials? Would there be different legal protections for my dad if something went wrong?
Great question! When an accountant uses proper channels (like read-only access), the bank maintains detailed logs showing exactly who accessed what information and when. The accountant's credentials are tied to their professional license and SSN, creating clear accountability. With shared login credentials, all activity appears to come from your dad's account - the bank can't distinguish between his legitimate access and the accountant's actions. If unauthorized transactions occur, your dad would need to prove he didn't authorize them, which becomes nearly impossible when he voluntarily shared his credentials. Legal protections are significantly stronger with proper access channels. Banks typically have specific fraud protection policies for business accounts, but these often become void when login credentials are shared. Additionally, if the accountant has her own credentialed access, there are professional liability and bonding requirements that protect clients - none of which apply when using someone else's login. Bottom line: proper channels create accountability and maintain your dad's legal protections, while shared credentials eliminate most of his recourse if something goes wrong.
As someone who works in financial fraud prevention, I can't stress enough how dangerous this situation is. Your dad's accountant is essentially asking for the keys to his financial kingdom, and her refusal to go through proper channels is a massive red flag. I've seen this exact scenario play out dozens of times - it usually starts with "just need access for bookkeeping" and ends with missing funds and a devastated business owner. The fact that she won't provide her SSN for legitimate read-only access tells you everything you need to know about her intentions. Here's what I'd recommend: Have your dad call his bank directly and ask them to walk through the proper accountant access options. Most banks have secure portals specifically designed for this purpose. If she still refuses these legitimate channels, that's your answer - find a new accountant immediately. Don't let your dad's trust override basic security practices. A legitimate accountant will understand and appreciate clients who insist on proper procedures. The sketchy ones will make excuses and push back, which is exactly what's happening here.
This is exactly the kind of professional perspective my dad needs to hear. The part about banks having secure portals specifically for accountant access is really helpful - I didn't know that was a standard option. Do you think it would be worth having my dad bring up your point about legitimate accountants appreciating proper security procedures? I feel like that might help him understand that a trustworthy professional wouldn't be pushing back against these basic safeguards. Right now he just sees it as "she's been doing my taxes for years so she must be fine" but maybe framing it as "good accountants actually prefer secure processes" would click better with him.
Just went through this same confusion last month! Code 806 is definitely the amount from your throughout the year - it's money you already paid to the IRS. When you add it to your bottom line amount and it equals what you expect, that's actually a good sign! It means your withholdings are covering your tax liability properly. The 806 amount gets applied as a credit against what you owe, and whatever's left over becomes your (which will show up as code 846 when it's processed). So you're not getting the 806 amount ON TOP of your - it's already factored into the calculation. Hope that clears things up!
Thank you so much for this explanation! I've been stressing about my transcript for days thinking something was wrong. So if I understand correctly, the 806 code is like a "payment" I already made through payroll deductions, and it gets used to calculate my final amount? That makes way more sense than thinking it was extra money on top of everything else. Really appreciate you taking the time to break this down!
The 806 code can definitely be confusing at first! To put it simply - code 806 shows the total federal income tax that was from your throughout the year. This is money you've already paid to the IRS, so it acts as a credit on your account. When you're calculating your refund, the IRS takes all your (including that 806 amount) and subtracts your actual tax liability. Whatever's left over becomes your refund. So if adding the 806 amount to your expected gives you the total you think you should get, that suggests your math is on track! Just remember to look for code 846 on your transcript - that's when your actual gets sent out. The 806 is just showing the IRS recognizes the payments you already made through payroll deductions.
Kylo Ren
bruh just use taxr.ai, it'll tell you exactly whats happening. stopped me from calling the MI treasury 50 times lol
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Nina Fitzgerald
β’fr? might have to check that out
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Andre Lefebvre
Manual reviews for Michigan returns with homestead credits are super common - I went through the same thing last year. The June timeline sounds about right unfortunately. The good news is that "manual review" doesn't mean there's a problem with your return, it's just that certain credits like the homestead property tax credit trigger additional verification steps. They're basically making sure your property info matches up with county records and that you meet all the residency requirements. Just keep checking your eServices account periodically for any document requests, but otherwise there's not much you can do except wait it out. The refund will come eventually!
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Jackie Martinez
β’Thanks for the reassurance! That's super helpful to know it's normal and doesn't mean there's an issue. I was getting worried since I've never had this happen before. Guess I'll just have to be patient and wait it out π
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