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.

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.

I received that letter february 1st and still nothing. transcripts haven't updated at all smh

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.

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 → Statements → 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.

Sorry to jump in with a dumb question, but if the OP just deposits the $2800 check and doesn't report anything on their taxes, would the IRS even know or care about such a small amount? Asking for... research purposes.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - the state is taking a strip of my front yard for highway widening and offered me $3,200. After reading through all these comments, I'm realizing this is more complicated than I initially thought. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is whether you should get an independent appraisal of the taken property. The government's offer might not reflect the actual fair market value, which could affect your basis calculation and potential gain/loss. In my case, I'm wondering if $3,200 is actually fair compensation or if they're lowballing me. Also, has anyone dealt with the situation where improvements you made (like landscaping, fencing, etc.) are affected by the taking? I had put in some expensive landscaping in that front area a few years ago, and I'm not sure if that factors into the basis calculation or if I should be asking for additional compensation for those improvements. The involuntary conversion rules mentioned earlier sound helpful, but I'm curious if there are any specific deadlines I need to be aware of for making decisions about reinvestment or filing the proper forms.

When I got my first 1099-R last year I was so confused! If you're using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, they actually make it pretty easy. You just enter the info from each box exactly as shown on the form. The software figures out the tax impact for you.

Just to add to what others have said - when you file your return, that 1099-R gets reported on Form 8606 if you have any after-tax contributions, but for most people it goes directly on your Form 1040. The distribution amount from Box 1 gets added to your other income, and if you have that dreaded Code 1 in Box 7, you'll also need to file Form 5329 to calculate the 10% additional tax. One thing that might help soften the blow - if you can't pay the full tax bill when you file, the IRS does offer payment plans. The penalty and interest aren't fun, but it's better than ignoring it. Also, for future reference, if you ever need money from retirement accounts again, consider a 401k loan first if your plan allows it - you pay yourself back with interest instead of paying taxes and penalties.