Just to add another perspective - I had this exact issue and eventually had to ask my parents. I know you don't want to, but sometimes it's honestly the easiest way. Took me 2 weeks of bureaucratic nonsense before I gave in and just asked them. Had the form in 5 minutes. Sometimes the simplest solution really is the best one, depending on your situation of course.

I completely understand wanting to handle this independently. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like creating your own HealthCare.gov account and calling the Marketplace Call Center is your best bet for getting the form officially. If you're having trouble getting through on the phone (which seems to be a common issue), you might want to try calling early in the morning or later in the evening when call volumes are typically lower. When I had to deal with government phone lines before, I found Tuesday through Thursday mornings around 8 AM worked better than Mondays or Fridays. Make sure you have all your personal information ready - full name, DOB, address, and SSN. You might also want to know approximate dates of coverage and any reference numbers from the original marketplace application if you have access to that information. Good luck with getting this sorted out! It's frustrating when you're trying to be responsible about your taxes but bureaucracy makes it difficult.

I've been following this discussion and there's one more critical piece that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand how the K-1 distributions will work going forward with your inherited QSST shares. As a QSST beneficiary, you'll receive K-1s from the S-Corp showing your share of income, but the trust might not distribute enough cash to cover the taxes on that income (called "phantom income"). This is especially important with an 18% stake in a $3.7M company - the pass-through income could be substantial. You'll want to work with the other shareholders and management to establish a distribution policy that provides enough cash to cover tax obligations. Many S-Corps have agreements requiring minimum distributions to cover taxes, but if your grandfather's estate didn't negotiate this, you could be stuck paying taxes on income you never received in cash. Also, since you mentioned this is a family business, consider whether there are buy-sell agreements or other restrictions on your shares. Sometimes these agreements can affect both the valuation for step-up purposes and your future ability to sell. The stepped-up basis is only valuable if you can actually realize it through a sale or other disposition. Given the complexity and the dollar amounts involved, I'd strongly recommend getting a tax attorney who specializes in S-Corps and estate planning involved, not just a regular CPA. This situation has too many moving pieces to handle without specialized expertise.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - there's so much nuance to QSST and S-Corp basis issues that I never would have considered! One additional consideration for @161c4afb254b - since you mentioned your regular tax person seems confused about QSSTs, you might want to start looking for a replacement now rather than waiting until tax season. The ongoing compliance requirements for QSSTs are pretty specific (annual income distributions, proper K-1 reporting, maintaining the trust's qualifying status), and having someone who doesn't understand the rules could create problems down the road. Also, I'd recommend documenting everything related to the inheritance and basis calculations in a dedicated file. Keep copies of the death certificate, the estate's business valuation, all QSST election documents, and any correspondence with the IRS or estate attorney. If you ever get audited, having a complete paper trail will make your life much easier. The IRS has been paying more attention to step-up basis claims lately, especially for business interests, so being able to substantiate your stepped-up basis with proper documentation is crucial. Given that your inheritance is worth over $600K, it's definitely large enough to attract scrutiny if not properly documented. Best of luck navigating this - it's complicated but manageable with the right professional help and documentation!

Just to add from personal experience - I tried claiming my new fridge and washer last year and got a letter from the IRS saying they weren't eligible. Ended up having to pay back the credit plus interest. Double check everything before filing!!

This is exactly why I always recommend getting professional help for energy credits! The rules are so specific and change frequently. What happened to you with the fridge and washer is unfortunately common - people assume "energy efficient" automatically means "tax credit eligible" but the IRS has very narrow definitions. For anyone reading this, the key thing to understand is that the federal energy credits generally focus on major home systems (heating, cooling, insulation, windows) and renewable energy installations rather than standard appliances. Even if an appliance is Energy Star certified, that doesn't automatically make it eligible for tax credits. Before claiming any energy credit, make sure you have documentation that your specific purchase meets the technical requirements listed in the IRS instructions for Form 5695. And when in doubt, it's worth paying a tax professional to review your situation - much cheaper than paying back credits plus penalties later!

I went through the exact same situation when I bought my house two years ago! My mortgage was sold before my first payment too, and the new servicer's 1098 was missing the points. Here's what worked for me: I called the original lender (the one who actually processed my closing) and explained that their 1098 reporting was incomplete since the loan was sold. They were actually pretty helpful once I got through to the right department - turns out this happens frequently when mortgages are sold quickly after closing. They issued a corrected 1098 within about 10 business days. The key is to have your loan number from the original lender (should be on your closing documents) and your closing disclosure showing the points payment. If for some reason you can't get the corrected 1098, you can absolutely still claim the deduction using your closing disclosure as supporting documentation. Just make sure to keep detailed records in case of any questions later. The closing disclosure is an official HUD document, so it carries a lot of weight as proof of what you actually paid. Don't stress too much about it - this is more common than you'd think with how often mortgages get sold these days!

I actually work for a tax prep company and see this exact scenario multiple times every tax season! When mortgages are sold quickly after closing (especially before the first payment), the points reporting often gets lost in the shuffle between lenders. Here's the good news: you have several solid options. First, definitely try contacting the ORIGINAL lender who handled your closing - they're the ones responsible for reporting those points since you paid them at closing. Have your original loan number and closing disclosure ready when you call. If they're unresponsive or unhelpful, don't panic. Your closing disclosure is actually considered primary documentation by the IRS for points paid. You can claim the full $4,500 deduction on Schedule A using that document as support. Just make sure to keep detailed records and maybe include a brief note about the 1098 discrepancy when you file. Since this was for your primary residence purchase (not a refinance), the points should be fully deductible this year rather than amortized over the loan term. The fact that they're specifically listed as "discount points" on your closing disclosure makes this pretty straightforward. One tip: if you do get pushback from the original lender, mention that this is required tax reporting under IRS regulations - sometimes that gets you transferred to someone who actually knows what they're doing!

Make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing from the startup! I got burned badly last year when I did development work for equity and the company changed terms on me after 8 months of work. Had already deducted $3k in equipment on my taxes and then had nothing to show for it.

Benjamin, you're asking all the right questions! A few key points to add to the excellent advice already given: 1. **Documentation is crucial** - Keep detailed records of your equity agreement, work hours, business purpose, and all expenses. The IRS will want to see this is a legitimate business activity, not a hobby. 2. **Consider forming an LLC** - Since you're doing significant startup work, you might want to structure this properly. An LLC can provide liability protection and may make your business deductions cleaner. 3. **Track everything separately** - Keep your startup work completely separate from your W2 job. Separate bank accounts, time tracking, expense records, etc. This will help if you ever get audited. 4. **Quarterly estimated taxes** - Even though you're not getting cash now, if the startup starts generating income or your equity becomes valuable, you'll need to make quarterly payments. Plan ahead. The MacBook deduction is legitimate business expense that goes on Schedule C. Just make sure you can prove it's used primarily for the business (keep usage logs if needed). Good luck with the startup!