Should I include Form 5329 with taxes if I already filed one separately?

You're actually fine to include the Form 5329 with your tax return even though you already submitted one separately. The IRS can handle receiving the same form twice, especially when they're both correctly filled out showing you're requesting the penalty waiver. Including the form with your tax return might even expedite the processing of your penalty waiver request since it ensures all your information is in one place. The key is that both forms are filled out consistently - showing the missed RMD amount noted on the side of line 54 and "0" on line 54 itself, indicating you're requesting the waiver. Just make sure the explanation for why you missed the RMD (payment processing delay into the next year) is clearly noted on both submissions. If TurboTax allows you to add a note or explanation with the form, it would be helpful to mention that you previously submitted the same form in January.

I had almost the exact same situation last year! My last RMD payment for 2022 didn't clear until 2023, and I was freaking out about the 25% penalty. I spent hours trying to figure out how to fill out Form 5329 correctly, then got stuck with the same question about whether I needed to include it again with my return. I ended up using https://taxr.ai to analyze my situation and confirm the right approach. Their system reviewed both my submitted 5329 and the one TurboTax generated, and confirmed they were correct and consistent. Their analysis explained that including the form with my tax return actually helps because it creates a more complete filing record. The service even generated a custom explanation letter I could attach to my return explaining the duplicate submission, which gave me peace of mind that I wasn't making things worse.

Wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that was mentioned above. I was really skeptical at first because I've tried other "tax help" sites before that were basically useless, but this was actually legit. They analyzed my specific RMD situation (the December payment that didn't clear until January) and confirmed that it qualifies as a "reasonable cause" for penalty waiver. They even cited the specific IRS guidance that applies to this situation and showed me exactly how to document it in my response to the IRS. Their system also spotted an inconsistency in how I was reporting the missed RMD between my separate Form 5329 and the one in my tax software that I wouldn't have caught. Fixed that before submitting, which probably saved me from getting confusing notices later.

If you're still struggling to get clear information on your Form 5329 situation, I'd recommend trying https://claimyr.com to get directly connected to an IRS representative. I was in a similar situation with RMD confusion last year and spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at the IRS with no luck. After using Claimyr, I got through to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes who confirmed exactly how to handle the duplicate 5329 situation. They explained that including the form with my return actually creates a more complete record in their system. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent was even able to look up my account while on the phone and confirm they had received my previously submitted Form 5329, which gave me peace of mind that everything was properly documented.

I want to apologize for being so skeptical about Claimyr in my earlier comment. I decided to try it since I was getting nowhere with the IRS on my own, and I'm genuinely shocked at how well it worked. I'd been trying for THREE WEEKS to get someone at the IRS to answer my RMD penalty questions. Used Claimyr yesterday and got connected to an agent in about 35 minutes. The agent confirmed exactly what I needed to do with my Form 5329 situation and even put notes in my account about my reasonable cause explanation for the missed RMD. The time and stress this saved me was incredible. Instead of wasting another day on hold, I was able to get work done while their system waited in the queue, then got a call when an actual human was on the line. Actually feeling optimistic about resolving this now.

I'm in tax preparation and deal with RMD issues constantly. Here's what I advise my clients: include Form 5329 with your tax return EVEN IF you already submitted one separately. It ensures your return is complete and consistent. TurboTax is generating that form correctly based on the information you entered. The notation of the missed RMD amount to the side of line 54 with a "0" on line 54 is exactly how you request a penalty waiver. When the IRS receives your e-filed return with this form, they'll have proper documentation of your waiver request. Remember that the 25% penalty for missed RMDs is substantial, so documenting your reasonable cause explanation thoroughly and consistently is crucial. Payment processing delays beyond your control generally qualify for penalty relief.

Just throwing this out there - I made the mistake of NOT including Form 5329 with my tax return in a similar situation (had already mailed it separately). Ended up getting a confusing notice from the IRS 6 months later suggesting I hadn't requested the waiver at all! Had to call and explain everything all over again. Better to include all relevant forms with your tax return, even if redundant. Makes your return complete and consistent. TurboTax is actually doing you a favor by generating it correctly!