I just saw it on a return I opened up today, and I had pretty much the same reaction that many people here did. Here are my thoughts for whatever it's worth.... AND I AM HOPING SOMEONE FROM PROSERIES READS THESE THOUGHTS!!!
a) I also don't necessarily have the RMD information for each client - sometimes they provide it, sometimes they don't, and even if I have it, I'd have to hunt in prior year info, on a 5498 which has a May 31 due date, after tax season, so I may not have received it at all (nor would clients be able to locate it so many months later)
b) making this field mandatory to complete feels like an indication that we, the tax preparers, are responsible for making sure their RMD's are met, by completing these fields.
c) In a very few specific cases, I'm involved with determining RMD's, calculating them, making sure they are met, but its rare. It's not part of the normal tax prep process, I would have to be compensated for this additional layer of responsibility by clients (who usually don't want to see their fees increase) The custodian or financial adviser is usually who makes sure this is done.
d) that said, I do not ignore it - if the amounts seem in the ballpark, I accept it and move on, or question the client if something seems missing.
e) note that some RMD situations are not straightforward - there are people who draw from a different IRA to cover the RMD in another, there are trusts, for which the RMD involves different IRS tables than the custodian is prepared to use, plus more.
f) Given these considerations, I really have no choice but to work around it and enter a senseless figure, basically false or unconfirmed information, by inserting a zero or the amount of the distribution....whatever makes it go away.
In summary, ProSeries should allow preparers to use this field when they have been engaged by the taxpayer (who are ultimately responsible for this) to make sure RMD's are met, but not require tax preparers to do so.
So, ProSeries, in case you are relying on AI or youthful programmers who are unfamiliar with the tax preparation process, that's generally how it works for me and I suspect many others.
