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Asher Levin
Just went through this exact situation with my father's life insurance policy earlier this year. The $78,000 payout you received is not taxable income, which is why you didn't get a 1099 - insurance companies aren't required to send them for death benefits. However, I'd recommend double-checking your payout statement to see if any portion was labeled as "interest." In my case, there was about $2,400 in interest that accumulated between my dad's death date and when they finally cut the check (took them 6 weeks to process). That interest portion IS taxable and should have generated a 1099-INT form. If you find interest on your statement but didn't receive a 1099-INT, you'll still need to report it as income even without the form. The insurance company might have just been slow sending it out - mine didn't arrive until late February.
Olivia Kay
ā¢This is really helpful - I hadn't thought about checking for interest on my statement! Quick question though - when you say the interest "accumulated between death date and payout," how exactly does that work? Is it like the insurance company is required to pay interest if they take too long, or is this something that happens automatically? I'm wondering if I should be looking for this on other payouts from my aunt's estate too.
@3a17ddee02c2 Great question! Most insurance companies have policies about paying interest when there are delays in processing claims, but it's not always automatic or required by law - it depends on state regulations and the company's own policies. Some states do mandate interest payments after a certain number of days (usually 30-60 days from when all required documentation is submitted). For other estate payouts, it really depends on the type of asset. Bank accounts, CDs, and some investment accounts might accrue interest during probate processing, and that interest would typically be taxable. But things like real estate sales or personal property distributions usually don't generate taxable interest in the same way. I'd definitely recommend checking all your estate-related statements for any line items mentioning interest, dividends, or earnings that occurred after your aunt's death date.
I went through something very similar when my grandfather passed last year. The key thing that helped me was requesting a detailed breakdown from the insurance company showing exactly what comprised the total payout. Most companies will provide this if you ask specifically for it. In my case, the $85,000 total included $82,100 in actual death benefits (completely tax-free) and $2,900 in interest that accrued during their processing delay. Only that interest portion required tax reporting. One thing to watch out for - some insurance companies will lump everything together on the initial payout statement, so you really need to ask for the itemized breakdown. Also, if your aunt had any outstanding policy loans against the life insurance, that can sometimes complicate the tax situation, though it doesn't sound like that's your case. Since you mentioned the insurance company gave you the runaround, I'd suggest asking to speak specifically with their "tax documents" or "1099 department" when you call back. They're usually more knowledgeable about these reporting requirements than general customer service.
This is really solid advice about requesting the itemized breakdown! I just called my insurance company again and specifically asked for their "1099 department" like you suggested - got transferred directly to someone who actually knew what they were talking about instead of bouncing around different departments for an hour. They're sending me a detailed breakdown that should arrive in 3-5 business days. The rep mentioned that they do automatically include interest calculations when there are processing delays over 45 days, so there might indeed be a taxable portion I need to account for. Really appreciate the tip about asking for the specific department - made all the difference in getting actual help!
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I'm going through the exact same thing! I've been using Free File Fillable Forms for about 4 years now and this new interface has me completely stumped. What used to be a simple, straightforward process now feels like I'm learning an entirely new system from scratch. The most frustrating part for me is that I actually started my return last weekend, got about halfway through, and when I came back to finish it this week, I couldn't figure out how to get back to where I left off. The new navigation is so different that I'm not even sure if my work was saved properly. I really appreciate everyone sharing their tips about finding the "Start New Tax Return" button and the manual save requirements. It's ridiculous that we have to crowdsource basic navigation instructions, but at least we're all helping each other out. The free filing is still worth it compared to paying for tax software, but they really dropped the ball on the user experience this year. Has anyone found a way to view or recover partially completed returns in this new system? I'm worried I might have to start over completely, which would be incredibly frustrating after spending hours on it already.
I ran into the same issue with recovering my partially completed return! What worked for me was logging back into my account and looking for a "Continue Return" or "Resume Return" option on the main dashboard. It's not super obvious - it was kind of buried in the middle section of the new layout. If you can't find that option, try clicking on "View Tax Returns" in the menu and see if your in-progress return shows up there. The new system seems to save drafts differently than before, so it might be listed under a different status than you'd expect. Worst case scenario, if you do have to restart, at least now we know about hitting that manual save button frequently and using the "Done" button when exiting forms. I feel your pain though - having to redo hours of work because of poor interface design is so frustrating. The old system may have looked dated, but at least it worked reliably!
I'm experiencing the exact same frustration! Been using Free File Fillable Forms for the past 3 years and this new interface completely threw me for a loop. What used to take me maybe 2-3 hours to complete now feels like it's going to take all weekend just because I can't figure out where anything is. The thing that really bugs me is that they clearly spent a lot of time and money redesigning this system, but it feels like they forgot about the people who actually use it regularly. The old interface wasn't fancy, but it was predictable and efficient. Now I'm spending more time trying to navigate the interface than actually filling out my tax forms. I'm definitely going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here, especially that taxr.ai tool that helps with navigation. At this point I'm willing to try anything that can help me get through this without pulling my hair out. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one struggling with this "upgrade"!
Yuki Sato
ā¢I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a newcomer to this community and to Free File Fillable Forms, and honestly, I was starting to think I was just not tech-savvy enough to figure this out. Reading everyone's experiences makes me realize it's not just me - this new interface really is as confusing as it seems. I switched to Free File this year to save money on tax prep fees, but after spending 3 hours last night just trying to figure out how to start my return, I was seriously considering going back to paid software. The tips everyone's sharing here are incredibly helpful though. I'm going to try that "Start New Tax Return" button location and definitely keep that manual save advice in mind. It's both frustrating and oddly comforting to see that even people who've been using this system for years are struggling with the changes. At least I know my confusion is justified! Thanks to everyone for sharing your workarounds and experiences - this community support is exactly what I needed to push through and figure this out.
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I'm going through the EXACT same thing right now! Filed electronically about 4 weeks ago and that "Your 2024 Tax Return Is Not Processed" message has been driving me absolutely insane. I was so confused about the difference between what the website shows and what the phone agent told me. After reading through all these comments, I finally understand what's happening - the website only updates when your return is 100% finished, not during the actual processing steps. So even though they're actively working on it (which is what "in processing" means), the website stubbornly shows "not processed" until everything is completely done. I just checked my transcript after seeing everyone mention the 570 code and yep, there it is! I also claimed Child Tax Credit for my two kids, so that explains why we're stuck in this verification process. It's such a relief to know this is totally normal and not some horrible error with my return. The IRS really needs to fix their communication system - having the website show one thing while agents see something completely different just creates unnecessary panic for taxpayers. At least now I know to watch my transcript for that 570 to disappear or an 846 code to appear instead of obsessively checking that useless main account page every day. Thanks for posting this question - all the responses here have been incredibly helpful in understanding what's actually happening behind the scenes! š
Javier Cruz
ā¢I'm in week 5 of this exact nightmare! Same Child Tax Credit situation, same 570 code, same frustrating "not processed" message that never changes. Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to think my return fell into some black hole at the IRS. The most annoying part is how the IRS makes it seem like nothing is happening when they're actually reviewing your return. That "not processed" status is so misleading! I've probably checked it 100 times hoping it would magically change to something more informative. Just wanted to add my voice to say this thread has been incredibly helpful. Now I know to ignore that stupid website status and just watch for the 570 to disappear from my transcript. Here's hoping we all see those refunds soon! The waiting is brutal but at least now I understand what's actually going on behind the scenes.
I'm dealing with this EXACT same situation right now! Filed my return 3.5 weeks ago and I've been going crazy seeing that "Your 2024 Tax Return Is Not Processed" message every single day while the phone agent told me it's "in processing." Reading through all these comments has been such a huge relief - I had no idea about the 570 code thing or that Child Tax Credit returns automatically get extra verification. Just checked my transcript and boom, there's that 570 code! I also claimed CTC for my kids so that explains everything. It's so frustrating that the IRS website basically lies to us by only showing "processed" when everything is 100% complete. They really should have an "under review" status or something instead of making us think absolutely nothing is happening with our returns. Thanks to everyone who explained what the different codes mean and what to watch for. I'm going to stop torturing myself by checking that useless main account page and just monitor my transcript weekly for the 570 to disappear or that magical 846 code to show up. This thread should be pinned somewhere - I bet thousands of people are going through this same confusing experience right now! At least now I know my refund isn't lost in some IRS black hole, just stuck in their verification queue. Hopefully we'll all see movement soon! š¤
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Emma Wilson
Is anyone using TurboTax for nonresident alien returns? I tried but it keeps getting confused about my pretax deductions and tax treaty benefits.
Malik Thomas
ā¢Don't use TurboTax for nonresident returns! It's not designed for that. I had to switch to Sprintax which is specifically made for nonresident alien tax situations. Much better handling of treaty benefits and form 1040NR.
Yuki Sato
I went through this exact same issue last year! As a nonresident alien from Canada on a TN visa, I was initially told by my employer that my health insurance premiums couldn't be excluded from federal wages. After doing extensive research and consulting with a tax professional, I discovered that the Canada-US tax treaty actually does allow for certain pretax deductions to be excluded from taxable income, even for nonresident aliens. The problem is that many payroll departments aren't familiar with the nuances of different tax treaties and visa classifications. I had to provide my HR team with specific references to Article XV of the Canada-US tax treaty and IRS Revenue Procedure 84-35 to get them to issue a corrected W-2. My advice: Don't just accept your employer's word on this. The rules vary significantly based on your home country's tax treaty with the US and your specific visa status. I'd recommend getting documentation from the IRS or a qualified tax professional who specializes in nonresident alien taxation before accepting that your pretax deductions should be fully taxable at the federal level.
Natasha Orlova
Theres another angle to consider - if ur trading in both taxable and IRA accounts and do these transactions across accounts, the wash sale rules still apply but ur broker might not track them correctly. Made this mistake last yr and got hit with an unexpected tax bill š©
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Javier Cruz
ā¢Is that still true if the option and stock are different enough? Like if I sold SPY options at a loss but then bought VOO shares in my IRA? They track similar indexes but aren't identical.
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Fatima Al-Sayed
Great question about cross-account wash sales! You're absolutely right that brokers often miss these. The IRS considers SPY and VOO to be substantially different securities even though they track similar indexes. SPY tracks the S&P 500 while VOO is Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF - they're different enough that selling SPY options at a loss and buying VOO shares wouldn't trigger the wash sale rule. However, if you sold SPY options and bought SPY shares (or other SPY options) across accounts, that would definitely be a wash sale that you'd need to track manually since your broker won't catch it.
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Nia Davis
ā¢This is really helpful clarification! I've been wondering about this exact scenario with different ETFs. So just to make sure I understand - the key is whether the securities are "substantially identical" rather than just tracking the same underlying index? That makes sense why SPY vs VOO would be treated differently even though they both follow the S&P 500. Do you happen to know if there's an official IRS list of what they consider substantially identical, or is it more case-by-case?
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