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Ask the community...

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Has anyone dealt with reversing an RMD that got sent after someone died? My grandmother passed in October and her November RMD went through before we could stop it. Is there any way to put that money back into the IRA?

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Unfortunately, once an RMD is distributed, there's no way to put it back into the IRA, even if the person has passed away. The IRS is very strict about this. The distribution becomes taxable income that needs to be reported, but as others have mentioned, it should go to the named beneficiaries of the IRA rather than to the estate.

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Julian Paolo

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I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now with my father's estate. One thing I learned from our estate attorney is that you should also request documentation from the IRA custodian showing the exact date and time the RMD was processed, not just when it was deposited into the bank account. Sometimes there can be a delay between when the distribution is officially processed by the IRA custodian and when it hits the bank account. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to get certified copies of the death certificate to the IRA custodian as soon as possible. This officially notifies them of the death and should stop any future automatic distributions. Most custodians will also provide you with the necessary forms to establish inherited IRA accounts for you and your brother, which you'll need to handle future required distributions under the new beneficiary rules. The sooner you get this paperwork started, the easier it will be to sort out any post-death distributions that may have occurred.

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This is really helpful advice about getting the exact processing time from the IRA custodian. I hadn't thought about the difference between when it's processed versus when it hits the bank account. That timing could be crucial for determining whether it belongs to the estate or the beneficiaries. I'm definitely going to get those certified death certificates sent over right away. How long did it take for your father's custodian to provide the inherited IRA setup forms? I'm hoping to get everything in motion before any more complications arise.

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Has anyone else had issues with Vanguard's online system showing incorrect information about tax forms? I withdrew from my 401k last year too (different reason) and initially got the same message about no forms being available. When I called, they said the form was actually generated but just not showing online for some reason.

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JaylinCharles

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Yes! This happened to me last year. Their online portal showed no forms but when I called they said they had already been generated. They ended up having to mail me a paper copy because their system had some glitch with displaying certain types of distributions online.

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I went through something very similar with my Vanguard 401k hardship withdrawal last year. The key thing to understand is that their online portal can be unreliable for displaying certain types of distributions, especially hardship withdrawals. When I called Vanguard directly, I learned that hardship withdrawals sometimes get flagged for manual processing to ensure the proper exception codes are applied. In your case, since you used it for a first-time home purchase, they need to verify this qualifies for the penalty exception on the first $10,000. Here's what I'd recommend: Call Vanguard's retirement services line and specifically ask about "hardship distribution tax reporting" rather than just asking about a 1099-R. Have your withdrawal date, amount, and reason ready. They should be able to tell you the status of your form generation and can often expedite it if there's been a delay. Also, keep in mind that even though you'll avoid the 10% penalty on the first $10,000, you'll still owe regular income tax on the full $28,000. The withholding they took might not cover your entire tax liability, so be prepared for that when you file.

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Keisha Brown

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This is really helpful advice about calling and asking specifically about "hardship distribution tax reporting." I've been trying to get through to Vanguard but wasn't sure exactly what to ask for. The point about manual processing for penalty exceptions makes a lot of sense - that could definitely explain why the form isn't showing up in the online portal yet. I'll try calling tomorrow with that specific language and have all my withdrawal details ready. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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I think the IRS intentionally makes these forms confusing lol. Has anyone had their Form 8802 rejected? How long did it take to get a response? I'm supposed to start a position in Korea in 6 weeks and I'm worried about timing.

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Mine took exactly 4 weeks from submission to receiving the certificate. My friend who applied around the same time but had some discrepancies between his application and tax returns had his rejected after about 3 weeks, then had to resubmit with corrections. The IRS is actually fairly quick with these compared to other services. If you're in a real rush, there's an expedited process, but you need to provide proof of urgency (like a letter from your employer with a deadline).

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Layla Mendes

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I went through this exact same nightmare with Form 8802 about 6 months ago! For line 4a when you check "Individual," you literally just need to write your full name exactly as it appears on your most recent tax return - nothing more, nothing less. Don't add your SSN, don't add extra info, just your name. Since you're working for a Singapore company, make sure you're also including copies of your most recently filed 1040 and any relevant schedules (like Schedule C if you have any self-employment income). The IRS uses this to verify your U.S. tax residency status for the foreign tax authority. One tip that saved me - call the IRS practitioner priority line if you get stuck. The regular customer service line is useless, but the practitioner line (even though you're not technically a practitioner) sometimes gets you through to someone who actually knows about international forms. Good luck with your deadline!

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Justin Trejo

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This is super helpful! I had no idea there was a practitioner priority line. Do you happen to know the number for that line? I've been trying the regular customer service number and like you said, it's been completely useless. Also, when you say "exactly as it appears on your tax return" - does that include middle initials if that's how you filed, or just first and last name?

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Mae Bennett

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The practitioner priority line is 866-860-4259, but heads up - they might ask if you're an enrolled agent or CPA. I just said I was calling on behalf of a client (which is technically true since you're your own client, right?). For the name on line 4a, include everything exactly as it appears - so if you filed with your middle initial, include it. If you used your full middle name, use that. The IRS computer system matches character by character, so "John A. Smith" is different from "John Smith" to them. I learned this the hard way when my first application got delayed because I abbreviated my middle name differently than on my 1040. Also make sure you're looking at the "name" field on line 1 of your 1040, not the signature line - sometimes people sign differently than they fill out the form.

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AstroAce

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In my experience selling a similar property, Form 4797 is your friend. You'll need to use this form to report the sale of business property, which includes the rental portion. For the primary residence part, you'll use Schedule D and Form 8949. The trick is making sure the allocation method is reasonable and consistent. My CPA recommended documenting EVERYTHING about how we determined the split. Also, don't forget to account for any improvements made specifically to one unit or the other! If your mom renovated just her apartment, that would adjust the basis differently than improvements to the rental unit.

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Chloe Martin

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This is so confusing! Does your mom need to file all these extra forms even if her total gain after the allocation might be under the $250k exclusion? Seems like a lot of paperwork for possibly no additional tax...

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Lara Woods

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You're dealing with a classic mixed-use property situation, and yes, you're absolutely right that you need to treat this as essentially two separate properties for tax purposes. Here's what you need to know: **Allocation Method**: Use a reasonable method to split the property - square footage is most common, but you could also use fair market value of each unit or number of rooms. Whatever method you choose, document it thoroughly and be consistent. **Primary Residence Portion**: Your mom can claim the Section 121 exclusion (up to $250,000) on the gain allocated to her primary residence portion, assuming she meets the ownership and use tests (lived there 2 of the last 5 years). **Rental Portion**: This is where it gets tricky. You'll need to: - Calculate the adjusted basis (original cost basis minus accumulated depreciation) - Report any gain on Form 4797 (Sale of Business Property) - Pay depreciation recapture tax at 25% on the depreciation previously claimed - Any remaining gain above the recapture amount gets taxed at capital gains rates **Key Point**: Even if your mom never actually claimed depreciation on her tax returns, the IRS assumes she should have, so you'll still need to recapture the "allowable" depreciation. I'd strongly recommend getting a tax professional involved given the complexity, especially since there are specific rules about mixed-use properties that can trip people up.

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This is really helpful! One question about the "allowable" depreciation - if mom's accountant didn't claim the full amount they could have claimed each year, does the IRS still make you recapture the maximum allowable amount? Or just what was actually claimed on the returns? I'm worried we might be on the hook for more depreciation recapture than what was actually taken as a deduction.

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Are Charitable Contributions to Foreign Organizations Tax Deductible? ICRC Donation Question

I've been keeping track of my charitable giving for tax purposes since I'll be itemizing this year. While most of my donations are straightforward, I'm confused about one to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - to be clear, not the American Red Cross. When I checked the ICRC website, it states: "In the United States, the ICRC is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with EIN 98-6001029. Donations to the ICRC are tax-deductible as allowable by U.S. law." But that doesn't really clarify whether my donation is actually deductible under US law. I tried searching their EIN on the tax-exempt organization search, but they only appear when I remove the United States filter (since they're based in Switzerland). Their "deductibility code" shows as FORGN, defined as "A foreign-addressed organization. These are generally organizations formed in the United States that conduct activities in foreign countries. Certain foreign organizations that receive charitable contributions deductible pursuant to treaty are also included, as are organizations created in U.S. possessions." The "deductibility limitation" just says "Depends on various factors" which isn't helpful. I also found an older page on their website (from around 2014) that contradicts their current statement: "if you do not pay tax in Switzerland your donation to the ICRC will probably not be tax-deductible. That is the case, for instance, if you pay taxes in Australia, France, the United Kingdom or the United States." This donation is only about $350 so it won't drastically affect my taxes, but I'd like to know for sure. My gut feeling after researching is that it's NOT deductible, but I'd appreciate any insights!

Worked at H&R Block for 7 years. One trick I've seen people use is to look at Schedule A (Itemized Deductions) instructions. It specifically mentions that you can deduct contributions to "A religious organization (church, synagogue, etc.)" without saying they have to be US-based. Some people deduct tithes to foreign religious organizations based on this language. Not sure if that helps with ICRC but thought I'd mention it.

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Emily Jackson

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Wait, seriously? Has anyone ever been audited for doing that? It seems like a pretty big loophole if true.

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Diego Rojas

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I can add some clarity here from a tax preparer's perspective. The ICRC is actually one of the few foreign organizations that IS deductible for US taxpayers, but the confusion comes from their unique status. They're what's called a "Friends of" organization - they have legitimate US operations through the ICRC Washington Delegation office, which allows them to qualify for deductible donations despite being headquartered in Switzerland. This is different from most foreign charities that don't qualify. The key is that your donation needs to go to their US operations (which it does when you donate through their main website). The outdated 2014 information you found was from before they established their current US status. For future reference, Publication 526 has the official rules, but honestly for international donations, it's worth getting confirmation directly from the organization or the IRS rather than trying to interpret the complex rules yourself. The $350 donation to ICRC should be deductible on your Schedule A.

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Yuki Ito

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This is really helpful clarification! I've been wondering about this exact issue with several international donations I made last year. When you mention that donations need to go through their US operations - how can you tell if you're donating to the US branch versus the international one? I donated through what I thought was their main website, but now I'm wondering if I accidentally donated to their Swiss operations instead. Is there usually a clear distinction on the donation page, or do most major international organizations automatically route US donations through their domestic operations?

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