different type of plans, different RMD starting dates. FROM AARP
What type of retirement accounts require RMDs?
Traditional IRAs
Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs
Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs
401(k)s
Nonprofit 403(b) plans
Government 457 plans
Profit-sharing plans
Other defined contribution plans
IRS PUBLICATIONS
RMDs from employer plans (other than SEP-IRA for self-employed, SEP-IRA for employees and SIMPLE IRAs) generally must begin by April 1 of the year following the year the individual reaches age 72 or later if the plan provides that employees working past this age can start when they retire. this special rule doe not apply to more-than-5% owners
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a distribution that is not an RMD can not be used to satisfy say an IRA RMD requirement for the year. Any missed RMD amount can be subject to a 50% penalty)
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You cannot take the RMD for one type of account from a different type of account. You cannot take an employer plan RMD from an IRA or vice versa. An RMD must be taken from each employer plan that you might have. If you have two 401(k)s and a 403(b), you must take 3 separate distributions – one from each 401(k) and one from the 403(b). There is an exception for 403(b) plans. If you have more than one 403(b), you can calculate each RMD and then combine them and take them from any 403(b) account you have.
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annuities - a different animal unless held inside an IRA
see this link about RMD's for annuities
https://www.annuityexpertadvice.com/annuity-rmd/#:~:text=No%2C%20non-qualified%20annuities%20are%20n...
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saying yes that a distribution is an RMD when it isn't would probably allow you to improperly avoid the 50% penalty for failure to take an RMD. I can not explain the answer you got unless what they were saying was it was not an RMD for IRA RMD purposes.
