Has anyone actually received a 1099-R form from their insurance company after surrendering a policy? I cashed out a small policy last year ($12k) and never got any tax forms. Not sure if I need to report it or not since it was probably all basis anyway.

You should definitely get a 1099-R from your insurance company - they're required to issue one if there was any taxable gain from the surrender. The fact that you didn't receive one could mean a few things: 1. The surrender amount was entirely return of basis (premiums paid), so no taxable gain 2. The insurance company made an error and didn't send it 3. It got lost in the mail or sent to an old address I'd strongly recommend calling the insurance company before you file your taxes. Even if there was no taxable gain, you'll want documentation showing the breakdown between basis and gain for your records. The IRS might question a policy surrender that doesn't appear on your return, especially if they have records of the transaction. If it turns out there was a taxable gain and you just didn't receive the form, you'll still need to report the income on your return - not receiving a 1099-R doesn't exempt you from reporting taxable income.

Be careful with amended returns. I filed mine last year. No updates for months. Then got a letter. They needed more documentation. Clock started over. Took 8 months total. Keep copies of everything. Check your mail daily. Don't miss their deadlines.

I'm curious, did you file your amendment electronically or by mail? I've heard that might affect processing times, but I'm not entirely sure if that's still true with the current backlog situation.

This is a complex situation but definitely fixable! Here's what I'd recommend as your action plan: 1. **Contact the original Roth IRA provider first** - Even if you don't have statements, they're required to keep records for years. Request a complete contribution and earnings history from when the account was opened until it was closed in 2021. 2. **File Form 8606 for 2018** if you haven't already - Since that $7,300 wasn't deducted, you need to establish basis to avoid double taxation later. Better to pay the $50 late filing penalty now than deal with bigger problems during conversion. 3. **Consider a strategic Roth conversion** - Once you have the contribution/earnings breakdown, you can convert the entire traditional IRA back to Roth. You'll only pay taxes on: (a) any earnings from the original Roth that lost tax-free status when rolled over, and (b) the growth that occurred in the traditional IRA since 2021. 4. **Don't rush this** - Take time to get accurate records and possibly consult a tax professional who specializes in retirement accounts. The tax implications of getting this wrong could be significant. The good news is that a large portion of your $41K is likely contributions that can convert tax-free. Getting proper documentation is key to minimizing your tax hit.

One thing that might help speed up the record-gathering process is to check if you have any old tax documents that could fill in the gaps. Look for Form 5498s from the years between your last statement (2017) and the rollover (2021) - your tax preparer might have copies even if you don't. Also, when you contact Charles Schwab, ask specifically about their "account reconstruction" services. Many major brokerages can recreate historical account summaries even when you don't have all the paperwork. They might be able to tell you exactly how much of that $33K was principal vs. gains when it came in. Before you make any moves, I'd strongly suggest running the numbers on what the tax hit would be under different scenarios. Sometimes it makes sense to do a partial conversion over multiple years to stay in lower tax brackets, especially if you're dealing with a substantial amount in taxable gains.

Been through this exact situation last year! Had the 810 freeze for about 3 weeks before I figured out what was going on. The key is to call the IRS identity verification line at 800-830-5084 first thing in the morning (like 7am sharp) to avoid the crazy hold times. If they say you don't need to verify identity, then it's probably a document matching issue. Check if your W2s match exactly what your employer reported to the IRS. Even small differences in wages or withholdings can trigger the 810. Also seconding what others said about taxr.ai - used it myself and it's actually legit. Breaks down your whole transcript situation and gives you a realistic timeline. Way better than just stressing and refreshing WMR every day lol. Good luck! 🤞

Ugh, I feel your pain! I'm dealing with the same 810 freeze right now - going on 5 weeks and I'm losing my mind waiting for this refund. 😩 From what I've gathered lurking in these forums, the timeline is all over the place. Some people get cleared in a month, others are waiting 3+ months. It really depends on what's actually causing the freeze. I called that 800-830-5084 number everyone mentions and they told me I wasn't selected for ID verification either. So now I'm trying to figure out if it's a wage mismatch or something else. Might have to bite the bullet and try one of those transcript analysis tools people keep mentioning. The waiting is honestly the worst part - especially when you really need that money. Hang in there! 🤞

This is such a common confusion! For your 16-year-old daughter's situation, you as her parent can definitely sign her tax return for e-filing. Most tax software will have a checkbox or field where you indicate you're signing as the parent/guardian of a minor child. Regarding your mom (grandma) signing instead - this would only be appropriate if she has legal guardianship of your daughter. If she's just helping with finances and teaching about taxes (which is wonderful!), the IRS would still expect you as the biological parent to be the one signing unless there's a legal guardianship arrangement. One thing to keep in mind - even though you're signing for her, your daughter is still the taxpayer. Make sure she understands what's being filed on her behalf, especially since this is her first tax experience. It's a great learning opportunity! The $4,800 she earned means she'll likely get most or all of any withheld taxes back as a refund, which is always exciting for a first-time filer.

Great question! For your 16-year-old daughter's situation, you as her parent can absolutely sign her tax return when e-filing. The IRS allows parents/guardians to sign on behalf of minor children, and most tax software will have a specific option or checkbox for this during the signature process. Regarding your mom signing instead - this would only work if she has legal guardianship of your daughter. While it's wonderful that grandma is helping teach her about taxes and finances, the IRS typically requires the parent or legal guardian to sign unless there's formal guardianship documentation. With $4,800 in income, your daughter will likely need to file (since the threshold for dependents with earned income is quite low), but the good news is she'll probably get back most or all of any taxes that were withheld from her paychecks! This is actually a perfect teaching moment about how the tax system works - she can see firsthand why taxes are withheld and how refunds work when you don't owe much tax. Make sure to involve her in the process so she understands what's being filed on her behalf. It'll make her more confident about handling her own taxes in the future!