RMD - Turbotax thinks my spouse is dead

[OftenConfused]

TurboTax has topped itself once again for the 2025 tax year. When I enter in information about an RMD, TurboTax thinks it's inherited. The software asks who died, and was it my spouse or someone else? But no-one has died; it's just an RMD. There seems to be no way past the questions "Year spouse passed away" OR "Someone else who passed away". Help! When I called customer support, the lady said "you need to talk to someone who knows more about that" and passed me over to the sales pitch for the $59 extra support. Wow.

[VolvoGirl]

What code is in box 7 on the 1099R?  A code 4 means death and it was inherited.   If you didn’t type the code wrong then check with the issuer.   

[OftenConfused]

We have three RMD forms (1099-R). Two of them say "7" for the distribution code. One says "G" for the distribution code. 

The weird thing is, a week ago I was able to get through the RMD section without incident, but then I quit TurboTax without saving it. Now I'm re-entering info, and after I gave the name of one of the Payers as a life insurance company, TurboTax assumes it's an inheritance. When I deleted that entry and tried another Funds company, TurboTax still assumed it was inherited.

[VolvoGirl]

Don’t know.  I’ll page @dmertz 

[dmertz]

This behavior suggests that you somehow marked the box on the Do any of these situations apply page that indicates that you inherited this retirement account.  I suggest deleting and reentering the Form 1099-R, making sure to not mark the box that indicates that the account is not inherited.

[OftenConfused]

For all the RMDs in the list that begins ""I inherited this IRA" I checked "None of these apply".

TurboTax has now accepted the entry for the 'Funds' company RMD.

It's still saying "Needs Review" for four other RMD companies. The software lands on "Who did Spouse inherit this IRA from?" and there are only two choices, both meaning that someone died (the spouse or someone else).

[PatriciaV]

Your best option is to 1) delete the 1099-R entries that are tagged as needing review and 2) refresh your TurboTax installation.

For more help, please see: 

• How do I view and delete forms in TurboTax Online?
• How do I delete a tax form in TurboTax Desktop?

If you're using TurboTax Online, log out of TurboTax, refresh your browser, and clear your cookies and cache. Then restart your browser and log into TurboTax again. Or try a different browser. 

See: 

• How do I delete cookies?
• How to clear your cache

If you're using TurboTax Desktop, save your return and close the program. Restart your computer and open TurboTax. Be sure to accept any updates that are suggested.

At this point, re-enter the 1099-Rs and follow the specific instructions previously provided by dmertz. Take your time and read each page, even though you may be very familiar with the interview screens. You might try entering the forms one at a time and run Smart Check (under Final Review) to be sure the entry is accepted before you enter another 1099-R.