I'm sorry for your loss, Emma. Dealing with inherited IRAs can be overwhelming during an already difficult time. The good news is that you likely don't need to worry about determining your father's basis at all. For traditional IRAs, "basis" refers to after-tax contributions that were made to the account. However, most people make only pre-tax (deductible) contributions to traditional IRAs, which means their basis would be zero. In this case, the entire inherited amount is taxable to you as ordinary income. Since you mentioned you received a 1099-R form for your 2022 distribution, check if it shows the full amount as taxable income. If so, that confirms you don't need to track down your father's basis information - just report the distribution as ordinary income on your tax return. The silver lining is that inherited IRA distributions aren't subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty that normally applies to IRA distributions before age 59½. Also, since you took the full distribution in 2022, you've satisfied all requirements and don't have any ongoing obligations related to this inherited IRA. If you're still concerned about whether your father made any non-deductible contributions, you could contact the IRA custodian to ask if they have records of such contributions, but based on your 1099-R showing full taxability, this likely isn't necessary.

I'm glad to see this thread has been so helpful for you, Emma! Just wanted to add one more practical tip based on my experience helping clients with inherited IRAs: make sure to keep a copy of your father's death certificate along with your 1099-R form when you file your taxes. While the 1099-R should have the correct distribution code indicating it's from an inherited IRA, having the death certificate provides additional documentation that this was indeed an inherited distribution (not subject to early withdrawal penalties) if the IRS ever has questions. Also, since you took the full distribution in 2022, you might want to consider whether you need to make estimated tax payments for 2023 if this distribution significantly increased your tax liability last year. The additional taxable income could affect your withholding requirements going forward. It sounds like you've got everything figured out now, but don't hesitate to consult with a tax professional if you have any concerns about how this affects your overall tax situation. Sometimes the peace of mind is worth the consultation fee, especially when dealing with larger distributions.

I've been through this exact scenario multiple times over the years, and I want to reassure you that what you're experiencing is completely normal! The disconnect between TurboTax and WMR status updates is one of the most common sources of anxiety during tax season. Here's what's likely happening: TurboTax's "pending" status means they've successfully transmitted your return to the IRS Electronic Filing system. The IRS has received it and it's in their processing queue, but they haven't yet sent back the formal acknowledgment that updates TurboTax to show "accepted." Meanwhile, WMR operates on a different update schedule entirely. Even after the IRS officially accepts your return (which TurboTax will then reflect), WMR can take an additional 24-72 hours to populate with information. This is because WMR pulls from a different database that gets updated in batches rather than real-time. Given that you filed recently and are checking "multiple times today," you're definitely still within the normal processing window. The fact that you're not seeing any error messages or rejection codes is actually a good sign - if there were issues with your return, you'd typically see those much faster. Your experience with the amended return delays last year is understandably making you nervous, but Form 1040-X goes through completely different processing channels that involve manual review. Regular e-filed returns like yours are processed through automated systems with much more predictable timelines. I'd suggest giving it until Wednesday if you filed over the weekend, or 48-72 business hours if you filed on a weekday. The systems will sync up, and you'll see the status updates propagate through both platforms. Try to resist the urge to check multiple times per day - it won't speed up the process and will just increase your stress!

As someone who's been filing taxes for over a decade, I can tell you this exact situation happens to thousands of people every single day during tax season! You're experiencing what I call "status update limbo" - it's frustrating but completely normal. Here's what I've learned from my years of experience and from working in financial services: TurboTax's "pending" status is actually their way of saying "we've done our job and sent your return to the IRS, now we're waiting for them to confirm they received it properly." It's like sending a certified letter - you know it was delivered, but you're waiting for the signed receipt to come back. The IRS processes returns in massive batches, especially during peak season. Their acknowledgment system runs on scheduled intervals (not real-time), which is why there can be delays between when they actually receive your return and when they send the confirmation back to TurboTax. WMR is even slower because it's designed for taxpayers to track refunds, not just acceptance. It typically doesn't populate until the return has moved beyond initial acceptance into actual processing stages. Your amended return experience from last year is totally different - those require human review and can take 16+ weeks. This is a standard e-filed return that will move through automated systems much faster. Bottom line: if you filed within the last 48 hours and see "pending" in TurboTax with no error messages, you're right on track. Check back in 2-3 days and you should see everything update. The waiting is the hardest part, but you're doing everything right!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my Form 1098 shows property taxes and "other taxes" but I wasn't sure how to handle them. Based on everyone's advice, I think the key takeaway is: don't automatically assume everything in Box 10 is deductible. You really need to get that detailed breakdown from your mortgage servicer to understand what each component actually represents. I'm going to call my lender tomorrow and ask for the escrow analysis like several people suggested. It sounds like the magic words are asking specifically for the "escrow breakdown" for the tax year, not just trying to interpret the 1098 form on your own. One question though - for those who discovered they'd been claiming too much in previous years, did any of you actually go back and file amended returns? I'm wondering if it's worth the hassle for relatively small amounts, or if it's better to just get it right going forward like some people mentioned. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that's so much more helpful than just reading IRS publications!

This is such a valuable discussion! I've been making the same mistake for years - just adding everything in Box 10 together without understanding what it actually represents. After reading through all these responses, I realized I need to stop treating my mortgage servicer's 1098 as the final word on what's deductible. They're just reporting what they paid out of escrow, not making tax determinations for me. I'm definitely going to call and request that "escrow breakdown" that everyone keeps mentioning. It sounds like that's the key to understanding exactly what each component of those "other taxes" actually represents. I never knew there was such a clear distinction between things like school district taxes (deductible) versus special assessments for neighborhood improvements (not deductible). The tip about cross-referencing with your actual county property tax statement is brilliant too - I bet that would clear up a lot of the confusion about what's what. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and the specific resources like Publication 530. This kind of detailed, practical advice from people who've actually dealt with the same issues is so much more helpful than trying to figure it out on your own!

Has anyone dealt with this issue when you have HSA contributions as well as Cafeteria Plan deductions? Our situation is similar but more complex: - W-3 Box 5: $412,000 - Section 125 Cafe deductions: $24,500 - HSA contributions: $15,300 - ADP Gross: $451,800 Should our G/L expense still match the ADP gross of $451,800?

This is such a common source of confusion! I went through the exact same thing last year when our bookkeeper quit right before tax season. The key thing to remember is that your business tax deduction should reflect the actual economic cost to your company, which is the full gross payroll amount of $250,250. The Section 125 deductions don't disappear - they just get redirected to employee benefits before hitting their W-2s. I found it helpful to think of it this way: if you wrote individual paychecks, you'd write them for the gross amount, then the payroll company handles directing some of that money to benefits. Your checkbook (and G/L) still shows the full amount going out. Also, make sure your payroll tax returns (941s) reconcile properly with these numbers. The wages subject to federal income tax withholding on your 941s should match the W-3 Box 5 amount, while your total wages paid should match the ADP gross. This creates a nice audit trail if anyone ever questions the discrepancy.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I work as a freelance graphic designer and ran into this exact Box 6 issue with three different 1099-NEC forms this year. Like many of you, I was really stressed about "filling in" information that wasn't on my original forms. After reading all these experiences, I decided to go with the state abbreviation approach. I entered "IL" for Illinois (where my state withholding went) in Box 6, and TurboTax accepted it immediately. My return has already been processed and accepted by both the IRS and Illinois Department of Revenue with no issues. What really clicked for me was understanding that Box 6 isn't asking for some mysterious number - it's just asking which state received the withholding taxes shown in Box 5. If your client withheld state taxes but forgot to include their state ID number, using the state abbreviation is actually the most accurate information you can provide. For anyone still hesitating: don't let this hold up your filing! The state code solution works and makes complete logical sense. You're not falsifying anything - you're providing the correct state identifier for where your withholding taxes were sent.

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add my perspective as someone who handles tax compliance professionally. The state abbreviation solution everyone is discussing is absolutely correct and widely accepted. When Box 6 is blank but Box 5 shows state withholding, entering the two-letter state code is the standard practice. This isn't a "workaround" - it's actually what tax professionals do routinely when payers fail to include their complete state identification information. The IRS and state tax agencies understand that businesses sometimes omit this information on 1099 forms. What matters most is that you're accurately reporting your income and the actual withholding amounts. The state identifier in Box 6 is primarily used for administrative matching, and using "PA" (or whatever your applicable state is) provides exactly the information needed for that purpose. Don't let this technical issue delay your filing. Use the state abbreviation where your taxes were withheld, and you'll be in full compliance. I've seen hundreds of returns processed this way without any issues.