Do I Need Form 1099-R to File Taxes if I Have an IRA?

Do I Need Form 1099-R to File Taxes if I Have an IRA?
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Are you wondering, “Should i get a 1099 for my IRA?” Or maybe you could be asking, “Do I need a 1099 Form for a 401k distribution?”

The answer to both questions is yes. You do need a 1099 Form for distributions, so you need to look out for traditional or Roth IRA tax documents from your financial institution. And come tax time, Form 1099-R may be one of the annual tax statements you get in the mail.

You can expect a 1099-R if you received money from an individual retirement account, rolled over funds from another retirement account such as 401(k) or 403 (b) plans, or converted a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Normally, you report distributions from retirement plans as taxable income once you retire and start receiving payments, although there are exceptions.

1099 Form for an IRA

Form 1099-R for an IRA shows distributions from retirement accounts such as IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, annuities and pension plans. The form indicates the gross amount of the distributions you received, how much of that amount was taxed and the amount withheld for state and federal income taxes.

The 1099-R also includes a distribution code explaining the kind of distribution you received. For example, you may have received an early distribution from an IRA account. Alternatively, you could have rolled over a distribution to a qualified retirement plan. Either way, both would be reported on Form 1099-R.

A pension plan administrator, brokerage house, mutual fund company or other financial institution is required to send you Form 1099-R reporting the amount of payments you receive or documenting your 401(k) to IRA transfer.

Form 1099-R Terms and Conditions

By law, the plan custodian is responsible for providing you with a 1099-R and must mail the form to you by ​January 31​. In some cases, annual tax documents are forwarded electronically by email.

If you take early distributions from a retirement account before you reach age ​59 1/2​, you will have to pay a 10 percent ​early withdrawal penalty on any amount you withdraw, in addition to paying ordinary taxes on the income.

The IRS requires that you attach Form 1099-R to your tax return if tax was withheld on all or part of any distributions you receive. Usually, federal income tax is withheld from pension and annuity payments and on the taxable portion of a profit-sharing plan, stock bonus plan or other deferred compensation plan.

Taxes are not withheld on any money you receive that you do not have to include in your gross income. Money you receive from a Roth IRA usually won’t be taxable. That’s because unlike other retirement plans that allow you to take a deduction for the contributions you make each year, you can’t deduct your contributions to a Roth IRA.

Special Cases for Inherited IRAs

If you inherit an IRA from someone other than your spouse, you can withdraw the annual required minimum distributions based on your own life expectancy. This gives the money more time to grow for your retirement.

The catch is you must take out your first distribution by ​Dec. 31​ of the calendar year following the year that the person who left you the IRA died. Otherwise, you need to withdraw all the money within five years of the account owner’s death.

In that case, unless someone left you tax-free income from a Roth IRA, income taxes can take a good chunk of your inheritance. When you take money from an inherited IRA, you receive Form 1099-R reporting the amount withdrawn from the account.

Tax Law for 2021

As of 2021, IRA tax rules aren't substantially different from previous years, but the tax rates generally remained steady. The standard deduction is higher, and itemized deductions are limitless. This may impact people's decisions about what types of retirement investments to contribute to or withdraw from in 2022 and subsequent years.