dmertz
Level 15

Retirement tax questions

The code 4 Form 1099-R implies that a distribution was made that is not eligible for rollover because it was made to a non-spouse beneficiary.  An inherited IRA can only be moved by nonreportable trustee-to-trustee transfer.  (Trustee-to-trustee can be within the same trustee).

If the account was actually properly moved by trustee-to-trustee transfer with no payment made to the beneficiary, no Form 1099-R should have be issued and you'll need to contact the trustee to obtain a corrected code 4 Form 1099-R showing that no distribution occurred.

Since a trustee-to-trustee transfer is neither a distribution nor a rollover, there should also be no rollover contribution shown on a Form 5498 from the inherited IRA.

If a distribution was actually made by paying it to the non-spouse beneficiary, putting it into an inherited IRA as if it was a permissible rollover constitutes an excess contribution to the inherited IRA that would be subject to penalty.

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