AMEN!!! Finally someone got this right!!!
The 2021 instructions for Form 8915-F clearly states: "... Do not use a Form 8915-F to report qualified 2020 disaster distributions made in 2020 or qualified distributions received in 2020 for qualified 2020 disasters. You will still use 2020 Form 8915-E to report coronavirus-related and other qualified disaster distributions made in 2020 and to report qualified distributions received in 2020 for qualified 2020 disasters." You have to spend some deep time reading all of the instructions closely. You can't just assume 8915-F replaced 8915-E in all cases involved.
Now I know this is very confusing and nobody has made this clear however where this stands (as far as spreading Corona virus related 2020 distributions over 3 years) is they have sat on their butts getting this 2021 Form 8915-E out and definitely have made it confusing for us all. Even the IRS has put on their website "Alternative Filing Method for E-filed Returns That Include Form 8915-E" because they know this is screwed up but don't expect this alternative method to make any sense either.
What I have done so far is in Pro Series (which they have the 8915-E but its a mess and not final but it does calculate correct and taxes the 1/3 proper if you fill it out correctly) is I filled it out and printed a .pdf of the form to send as an attachment somewhat per the IRS instructions in this Alternative Method, even tho it says all over it "Form not Final". I will probably wait until 3/31 to make sure this isn't resolved, I'm not sure, I have several returns involved, but right now I think I could file them with this solution. What a frustrating mess for something so simple.
