Does this actually work though? I thought RMDs from different account types can't be combined - like 401k RMDs have to come from 401k accounts and IRA RMDs have to come from IRAs?

You're right that different account types have separate RMD requirements - you can't satisfy a 401k RMD by taking a distribution from an IRA or vice versa. What I meant was if there are still remaining RMDs to be taken from any account, you can increase the withholding on those to help make up for underwithholding on previous distributions. For example, if your parent has multiple IRAs and has only taken distributions from some of them, you could take the remaining required amount from another IRA with higher withholding. But you're correct that you can't mix account types for RMD purposes.

That's actually really smart! I hadn't thought about adjusting withholding on Social Security. Do you remember how long it took for the change to take effect after filing the W-4V?

Are you sure about that 3-year deadline? I thought if you're owed a refund, there's no penalty for filing late and you can do it anytime?

Yes, I'm 100% certain about the 3-year deadline for claiming refunds. The IRS gives you three years from the original filing deadline to submit a late return and still get your refund. After that window closes, any refund you were entitled to becomes government property - you lose it completely. This is different from owing taxes, where there's no deadline to file (though penalties and interest keep accumulating). But for refunds, it's a use-it-or-lose-it situation with a strict 3-year limit. Since 2022 taxes were originally due in April 2023, you have until April 2026 to claim any refund for that year.

That doesn't sound right. Most states only tax you for the portion of the year you were a resident. Did you try filing as a part-year resident?

That's good to know! Do you happen to know if there's a way to check what the timeframe is for my state? I'm in California.

For California, you generally have 4 years from the original due date to file an amendment for a refund. However, if you owe additional tax, you should file as soon as possible to minimize interest and penalties. California uses Form 540X for amendments. I'd recommend checking the California Franchise Tax Board website for the most current information, as requirements can change. The main thing is just not to assume the state follows the same rules as the IRS.

As of 2025, the IRS allows electronic filing of Form 1040-X in most cases! This was a game-changer they implemented a few years back. However, there are still some situations where paper filing is required (like if your original return was from more than 3 years ago). If you use tax software like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct, most of them now support e-filing amendments. This can significantly speed up processing time compared to paper filing.

Thanks for this! I'm a bit confused though - when I file the amended return for my 2023 taxes to claim the AMT credit I missed, do I also need to file Form 8801 for my 2024 return to track any unused credit? Or does the amended 2023 return take care of everything?

You'll need to file Form 8801 with your 2024 return to calculate how much of your AMT credit from 2023 you can use in 2024. The amended 2023 return establishes that you paid AMT and are entitled to the credit, but it doesn't automatically apply that credit to future years. Think of the amended 2023 return as creating the credit, and Form 8801 on your 2024 return as using (or tracking) that credit. If you can't use the entire credit in 2024, you'll file another Form 8801 with your 2025 return, and so on until you've used up the entire credit.

TurboTax Premier and above do handle AMT credits and carryforwards if you use it consistently year to year. The key is importing your previous year's return so it can pull in the AMT information. In your first year claiming the credit, you may need to manually enter some information from your prior year return if you didn't use TurboTax before.

Thanks for mentioning Form 8283. My donation was actually just a wire transfer though - it wasn't a non-cash donation. Would I still need that form? And what about the appraisal requirement?

For a cash donation (like your wire transfer), you won't need Form 8283 or an appraisal - those are only for non-cash donations like property, stocks, artwork, etc. For your cash donation, you'll need a receipt or acknowledgment letter from the organization that includes: the organization's name, the amount donated, the date of the donation, and a statement that no goods or services were provided in exchange for the donation. Since your donation is over $250, this written acknowledgment is absolutely required by the IRS.

TurboTax works fine but you have to manually enter the charity as "Other" and then fill in all the details yourself. The software won't verify if the organization is actually eligible for deduction though - that research is on you.