How can I check the status of a mailed tax return?

[hchan32]

I made Roth IRA contributions in 2020 when I had no earned income, but withdrew all my contributions and earnings in February before the filing due date (April 15, 2021) when I realized. I won't be receiving my 1099-R from Vanguard until next year in 2022, but I need to file this year since I owe the 10% penalty tax on my earnings.

The 10% early withdrawal penalty on my earnings is the only tax I owe. I plan on filing Form 5329 by itself with a money order enclosed. It has to be mailed since I'm filing the form on its own. Is there a way I can check the status of the form?

I won't be receiving a refund since I owe taxes, so I can't use the where's my refund tool. I plan on adding tracking to my mailed form so I know when the IRS receives it, but how can I know if it was accepted? I can also always check to see if my money order has been cashed by the IRS, but I heard sometimes they don't cash payments for a year. Will I be fine once I see that my tracked form has been sent to the IRS address? It's my first time filing anything so I just want to be extra sure of myself.

[DanaB27 · Accepted solution]

You cannot file Form 5329 by itself.

If you haven't filed your 2020 tax return then you can use TurboTax to file your tax return and create Form 1009-R for the withdraw of excess contribution and earnings.

To create a 1099-R in your 2020 return please follow the steps below:

1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
2. Click on the Search box on the top and type “1099-R”
3. Click on “Jump to 1099-R”
4. Select "I'll type it in myself"
5. Box 1 enter total distribution (contribution plus earning)
6. Box 2 enter the earnings
7. Box 7 enter P and J 
8. On the "Which year on Form 1099-R" screen say that this is a 2021 1099-R.

If you report it now in your 2020 return then ignore the 1099-R when it comes on your 2021 tax return unless there is Box 4 Federal Tax withholding and/or box 14 State withholding. Then you must enter the 2021 1099-R into the 2021 tax return since the withholding is reported in the year that the tax was withheld. The 2021 code P will not do anything in 2021 tax return but the withholding will be applied to 2021.

If you have filed already your tax return then wait until you get the Form 1099-R  2021 in 2022 to amend your 2020 tax return.