2025 Form 5239-S text in Part XI Explanation statement is deleted or can't be saved

[paulinus49]

My 2025 IRA distribution was shy by $452 because charity failed to cash $1000 check until 01/08/2026.  Check was written and mailed on 12/16/2025.  I want to request a waiver of penalty but TurboTax Explanation statement will not hold text.  Text vanishes every time a try to enter it.  I get a "check this entry" every time I run Smart Check.  Whether I type in text or cut and paste from elsewhere, text always vanishes.

On Line A of the Waiver of Tax Smart Worksheet, the $452 shortfall is listed.  However, the QuickZoom to the waiver explanation statement takes me to the statement, but the text I add vanishes from the explanation statement.  Same as what happens in the "Step-by-Step."

Line 54a on Form 5329-S itself has $0 due and RC ("Reasonable Cause") and $452 to the left of that "0" but if there is no valid explanation statement attached, the IRS will not have a basis to waive the penalty.

Anyone have a workaround for this problem?  Can I ignore the error message during the review, efile the return and just wait until the IRS notifies me it needs the explanation?  Thanks.

[paulinus49]

I may have solved it.

TT will ask you about any IRA where the RMD wasn't met:  "Let's go over any required RMD."

TT then  say let's check if you missed any required distribution.  Click "yes."

Then it tell us total RMD from other IRAs.  For me it was $0.

TT then asks if you took corrective action.  I said "yes."  (Check cashed after 12/31/2025) was within 2 year Correction period.)

TT then asks if you want to request a waiver to reduce penalty?  I said "yes."

How much penalty to be waived?  I said $452, the amount we were shy.

TT said we have a 10% penalty and to provide a detailed explanation.

FINALLY, the space allotted for the explanation took the text.

NOTE:  When I checked the actual statement, the text was there but very, very tiny.    I went down a line and increased the font size and retyped the explanation.  So far, text hasn't vanished.

On line 54a of 5329-S, there is now reference to "See Stmt" "RC [Reasonable Cause]" and "$452."

Curiously, when I went to Forms, there was an error symbol next to the explanation statement that says "(Not Done)" When I ran another error check, it showed an error on the explanation statement.  But apparently, I had retyped the explanation on the second line instead of the first.  When I entered "see below" on the first line, the error symbolwas removed.

I know this is convoluted but I hope it helps someone else.  Sure was a PIA.  Good luck.

[Mamaw2]

I totally agree that it is a PIA!!!  I'm still having problems with it even though I have type in the explanations multiple times, TT automatically delete the explanation.  This is so frustrating!!

[MarilynG1]

The IRS rarely denies waivers if you have already withdrawn the missed RMD amount. You must report that you have "corrected" the missed RMD by taking the distribution, and state that it was due to reasonable error.

Check Form 5329: Review the form in FORMS mode in TurboTax. If your explanation for the missed RMD was accepted, the penalty on Form 5329, Line 55 should show as 0.

If you still see a penalty after fixing the issue, re-answer the questions regarding the RMD in the, "Let's go over any required minimum distributions (RMD)" section, as this refreshes the calculation.  You could delete Form 5329 before stepping though the section to be sure.

@Mamaw2