Didn't take out the RMD from an IRA. File a form-5329; should I report the RMD for 2016 or should the line for Traditional and Roth IRA distribution line be zero?

[dmertz · Accepted solution]

Distributions are reportable on the tax return for the year in which the distribution takes place.  If your RMD distribution was not taken in 2016, you have no distribution to report on your 2016 tax return.  Your 2016 tax return would include only the Form 5329 requesting the waiver of the excess accumulation penalty on the RMD required to be taken by year end but was not taken by then.  If you took the 2016 RMD in 2017, this distribution is income to be reported on your 2017 tax return along with your RMD for 2017 that you will take by the end of 2017.