Thanks for providing background and the explanation! So what you are saying is that the Merrill coding actually doesn't matter to the IRS? If Merrill calls the deposit a "contribution" and this puts me over the annual contribution limit, the IRS can do the math and see that a lump some of money came out and then went back in within 60 days so they automaticaly know it is an indirect rollover?

Thanks for encouraging me to call back! They told me I had to either write Merrill a check or do a wire transfer from the Bank of America side. Did the wire transfer... hopefully it works out. I will call Merrill again tomorrow to make sure that the transfer is coded correctly as an indirect 60 day rollover. This has definitely been a learning experience, I feel like I know more than most associates at Merrill about indirect 60 day rollovers now haha.

yeahhhh I messed up. evidently for Roths you are allowed to indirect rollover back into the same account.