There is no box 5a on a Form 1099-DIV. Do you mean box 5? The IRS instructions for Form 1099-DIV say that the amount in box 5 must be included in the amount in box 1a. So a 1099-DIV with an amount in box 5 and nothing in box 1a is not filled out correctly and is not valid. Whoever confirmed that your 1099-DIV is "accurate" obviously did not read the IRS instructions. Contact the issuer of the 1099-DIV to get a corrected Form 1099-DIV.
The following is from the IRS Instructions for Form 1099-DIV, on page 5.
"Box 5. Section 199A Dividends
Enter the qualified REIT dividends paid by a REIT or section 199A dividends paid by a RIC to the recipient. This amount is included in the amount reported in box 1a."
Would a solution be just to enter the same amount in box 1a?
Thank you. The investment firm issued the 1099-DIV and I looked at 2022, it had the same, just the box 5a had any data and the efile went through just fine. This year it is not accepting it. I will reach out to the firm tomorrow then.
I considered that, but it wouldn’t reflect what is on the 1099 sent to the IRS.
You are right, sorry. My eyes are tired filling it all out. It wouldn’t download from the site and I had 10 pages of 1099’s to enter by hand. I will contact them tomorrow for a correction, but 2022 had the same for certain funds and that file went through no problem.
10 pages of 1099 forms? Did they all come mailed together? If you have a consolidated 1099 you just enter the totals on that page and not all the detail pages.
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