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Level 1
posted Apr 12, 2025 2:35:27 PM

Employer moved 401k from Vanguard to Fidelity but no 1099R?

Hi, my employer decided to change the financial institute that manages our 401k. Am I expecting a 1099R form the following year after the transfer?

To be clear, my employer had our 401k with Vanguard and last year it was moved to Fidelity (all happened transparently to us, we were only notified by HR that we now have 401k at Fidelity). I don't think there's any change of the 401k account types, the 401k is moved to a new 401k account, Roth 401k is moved to a new Roth 401k, just they are with Fidelity now.  I think this is trustee-to-trustee direct rollover/transfer?

However, I didn't get a 1099R form from Vanguard, in fact, when I login to the Vanguard 401k portal, there are two sections: 1. Tax Forms 2. Distributions. Both sections are empty with nothing to download. (And it absolutely pains to call Vanguard retirement plan customer service.)

In the past, I also worked for 2 companies A and B that both had 401k with Fidelity. When I left A to work for B, I asked Fidelity to transfer 401k of company A to the 401k of company B. It was seamlessly and the next year I got 1099R forms.

So I am confused, under what circumstance are these transfers considerred reportable with a 1099R? (even though I believe none of these transfers were taxable) I am guessing 401k trustee-to-trustee direct rollover/transfer that doesn't incur taxable is optional to report to IRS so sometimes (like the Vangard to Fidelity case) no 1099R form?

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1 Replies
Expert Alumni
Apr 12, 2025 2:38:45 PM

You will not receive a 1099-R for this (unlike when you changed jobs).  This is because you never personally took possession of the money, so there was nothing to trigger a 1099-R.  There is also nothing for you to report on your individual tax return.