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I contributed....more than 30K in one year (joint filing), so was told I need to file the 709 so I avoid gift tax."
You have been pointed in the proper direction to the rules and forms by other SuperUsers. However, you should absolutely consult with a tax professional with respect to preparing Form 709.
You likely will not owe any gift tax since you have a lifetime exemption of $11.18 million for 2018 and $11.4 million for 2019 (per individual).
If the gift were made this year, 2019, then you would file the gift tax return no earlier than January 1, but not later than April 15 of 2020 (you can request an automatic 6-month extension). If the gift were made in 2018, then the gift tax return is late (unless an extension was filed).
More importantly, if you made this $30k+ gift with your spouse (reference to "joint filing"), then you each need to file a gift tax return (Form 709). Please seek professional guidance.
