2024 Easy step Inherited IRA confusing = not easy step

[Username5]

I inherited my Father's TIRA 10 yrs ago and have been taking RMD's from HIS TIRA ever since then.  I am also taking RMD's from my own TIRA.  So the 2024 Premier has this question "If [my] total RMD for 2024 was more than the amount taken out.....What was the RMD for [My] account in 2024?

This is totally confusing.  My RMD is much larger than the RMD from my Father.  It is called an Inherited IRA and yes, it's mine, but it is NOT 'My' RMD. If I enter 'My RMD' the program goes the wrong direction.  This is because it should be asking for the RMD of that particular account.  Sure, I'm splitting hairs.  But the wording here is quite confusing and requires me to go back and start over by entering the RMD for this particular account.

It would be fine if I was not 59-1/2 but I well past that and this program is making it harder than it needs to be.  So I presume Intuit will not see this but I hope someone will pass this on to them since there is no way that I can find to make comments when there is a problem.

[Opus 17]

I'm not clear on what you are seeing.  Maybe you can attach a screen shot.

Of course, the RMD for your inherited IRA and your own IRA are calculated separately and can't be combined 
(in the way that you can combined RMDs if you own more than one IRA at different banks).  Sometimes, the question is actually irrelevant.  For example, in the simple situation with a single IRA that you own, the purpose of asking the question "is this your RMD" is only because there are certain things you can't do with an RMD, like roll it over into a different IRA, do a Roth conversion, or contribute it to a different IRA.  (You can do these things with your IRA money but only after you withdraw the RMD and pay tax on it.)  So the question is just used in combination with a rollover or contribution to make sure any rollover is valid.  If you didn't make a rollover or a new IRA contribution, it doesn't really matter how you answer the RMD question.

I expect it's similar for an inherited IRA.  The fact that you have both doesn't change the fact that, as long as you aren't trying to rollover the inherited IRA into your own IRA, convert to a Roth, or make a new IRA contribution, it probably doesn't matter how you answer.

[VolvoGirl]

What code is in box 7?  That may make a difference.  And I'll page  @dmertz  

[Username5]

Thank you for your reply, basically I'm complaining because Intuit is using the same dialog for 2 dissimilar situations and it caused me to back out and start again and answer contrary to their instruction.  In the screenshot I entered the RMD for the applicable TIRA.  But they asked for "my" total RMD and when I enter that it is the wrong answer.  It's a fine point that they are asking but it should be better worded.  It needs to distinguish that they are asking about THIS account and not all accounts that have an RMD.   They don't say 'all accounts but the way I read it that is implied.  The only case where this verbiage is valid is if the filer is not yet 59-1/2 y.o.  This does not apply to me.  

[Username5]

It is exactly what it has been for the past decade.  It's a 4.  

[dmertz]

The RMD from your father's RMD is indeed your RMD because you are the one who is required to obtain the distribution as beneficiary.  When TurboTax asks after clicking the Continue button on the page that list the Forms 1099-R that you have entered whether or not you have completed your RMDs, it refers to the sum of the RMDs for you as owner plus the RMDs for you as beneficiary of your father's IRA.

If you took all required RMDs from your IRA(s) and the inherited IRA, indicate so.

Because you are the one who is required to obtain the distribution from these accounts, failure to complete either RMD is reportable in the same way on Part IX of your Form 5329.  Because of this, with respect to Form 5329 there is no meaningful distinction between RMDs you are required to take from your own retirement accounts and an RMD that you are required to take from an inherited retirement account.  This means that there is no reason for TurboTax to distinguish between these two RMDs and only needs to work with the combined total.

[Username5]

I answered all the questions correctly.  The question, as shown in the above screenshot is "What was the required min distribution for my account in 2024?"  I guess we can argue over singular or plural. It took it to be all my accounts, which is 2 RMD's.  That is the wrong answer.  I'm sorry that my brain reads it differently and I'm just trying to say "hey, this is confusing".  Prior years of TTax had different wording, I think and if they would have left it alone it would have made more sense.  Or maybe I'm just starting to lose it in my advanced age.  I'm not asking for any further reply but thank you for your time and for being available for help explaining the not so obvious intricacies of doing my taxes.

[dmertz]

OK, I see what you mean about the new question.  This question asked during the entry of a particular Form 1099-R is asking about the the RMD for the particular account.  I agree that this page was badly designed by the developers since, in the case where an IRA owner had more than one of their own traditional IRAs, it does not take into account that an RMD for one of the individual's IRAs can be taken from another of the individual's IRAs (but not from an inherited IRA to satisfy the RMDs from the individual's own IRAs). 

To avoid TurboTax inappropriately generating Form 5329 Part IX, indicate the amount of this distribution that was RMD (no more than the entire gross amount amount).  However, if some portion of the RMD for a particular account was unsatisfied (because it was not taken from any other of the individual's IRAs) and Form 5329 Part IX needs to be prepared, you'll need to add the unsatisfied amount to the gross distribution amount when answering how much RMD was required for this account.