Forgot to Include 1099-R from Fidelity - Will My Refund Get Delayed?

According to IRS Publication 17, you should file an amended return (Form 1040-X) as soon as you realize information was omitted. Per Internal Revenue Code §6501, the statute of limitations doesn't begin until a return is considered complete and accurate. Your refund will likely be delayed, but taking proactive steps minimizes penalties. The IRS document matching program will eventually catch the discrepancy between what Fidelity reported and what's on your return - I'm just relieved I found this answer for you before they send you one of those scary CP2000 notices!

I made exactly the same mistake in 2022 with a $6,842 distribution from my 401k. I filed my amended return exactly 14 days after my original submission. My original refund of $3,217 was delayed by exactly 47 days while they processed everything. The amended return took 112 days total to process, but they released my original refund before the amendment was fully processed. I was so relieved when it all worked out without penalties!

If you want to resolve this quickly, file the amended return and then call the IRS directly to confirm they've received it. Getting through to an agent is the challenge though. I recommend using Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to connect with an IRS representative without the endless hold times. Their system navigates the IRS phone tree and calls you when an agent is on the line. This way you can confirm they've received your amendment and get an estimated processing timeframe directly from a representative.

Just to clarify something important - was this a taxable distribution from your retirement account? If it was a direct rollover to another qualified account, it might not impact your tax liability at all, even though you still should have reported it. The nature of the distribution makes a big difference in how urgently you need to address this.

WARNING: I ignored a missing 1099-R in 2022 thinking the amount was too small to matter. The IRS Automated Underreporter (AUR) program flagged the discrepancy in October 2023 and issued a CP2000 notice with the original tax due PLUS interest calculated from the original filing deadline. Had to pay an additional $437 in interest and penalties that could have been avoided by filing an amended return immediately. Don't wait for the deadline - I learned this lesson the hard way.

The community wisdom on this is pretty consistent - file the 1040-X ASAP. According to the IRS website, electronic filing of amended returns is now available for tax year 2023, which speeds up processing considerably compared to paper filing. The IRS 'Where's My Amended Return' tool can track progress once it's in their system. Just remember that amended returns can't be e-filed if your original return was filed by paper - in that case you'd need to mail it in. Most people see better results when they take action before the IRS contacts them.