
Tax Season 2019 Is Here: This Is What You Need to Know
January not only marks the beginning of a new year (or sometimes even a whole new decade), but also starts a season of feverish paperwork gathering and appointment setting in preparation for the quickly approaching tax filing deadlines. Curious what the markets have been up to so far this year? Please feel welcome to take a look at our recent January 2020 Market Update.
As you prepare for tax season, we thought it may be helpful if we compiled some information for this year, check it out:
2019 Form 1099 mailing schedule
• January 31 – Mailing of Form 1099-Q and Retirement Tax Packages
• February 15 – Mailing of original Form 1099s
• February 28 – Begin mailing delayed and amended Form 1099s
• March 15 – Final mailing of any remaining delayed original Form 1099s
Additional important information
Delayed Form 1099s
In an effort to capture delayed data on original Form 1099s, the IRS allows us to extend the mailing date until March 15, 2020, for clients who hold particular investments or who have had specific taxable events occur. Examples of delayed information include:
• Income reallocation related to mutual funds, real estate investment, unit investment, grantor and royalty trusts, as well as holding company depositary receipts
• Processing of original issue discount and mortgage-backed bonds
• Expected cost basis adjustments including, but not limited to, accounts holding certain types of fixed income securities and options
If you do have a delayed Form 1099, a preliminary statement will be generated and can be viewed in Advisor Access for informational purposes only, as the form is subject to change.
Amended Form 1099s
Even after delaying your Form 1099, please be aware that adjustments to your Form 1099 are still possible. Raymond James is required by the IRS to produce an amended Form 1099 if notice of such an adjustment is received after the original Form 1099 has been produced. There is no cutoff or deadline for amended Form 1099 statements. The following are some examples of reasons for amended Form 1099s:
• Income reallocation
• Adjustments to cost basis (due to the Economic Stabilization Act of 2008)
• Changes made by mutual fund companies related to foreign withholding
• Tax-exempt payments subject to alternative minimum tax
• Any portion of distributions derived from U.S. Treasury obligations
What can you do?
You should consider talking to your tax professional about whether it makes sense to file an extension with the IRS to give you additional time to file your tax return, particularly if you held any of the aforementioned securities during 2019.
If you receive an amended Form 1099 after you have already filed your tax return, you should consult with your tax professional about the requirements to re-file based on your individual tax circumstances.
Are you interested in laying the groundwork for an easier tax year next year (without any of the nervous energy or coffee-stained bank statements)? Check out our blog Lose the Shoebox: 10 Ways to Set Yourself Up for a Stress-Free Tax Season in 2020 and Beyond.
We hope you find these details helpful. Please contact your local branch if you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming tax season – we’re happy and ready to help!