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I'm in a similar situation and ended up documenting my parking expenses as part of my overall medical expenses (not as a work expense). Since my total medical expenses were already over the 7.5% AGI threshold, I was able to deduct these costs as part of my medical deduction. My tax preparer said it's legitimate since the parking is directly related to my documented medical condition. Just make sure you have good documentation - receipts, doctor's note about your condition, and proof that the expense is necessary due to your impairment. In an audit, you'd need to show it was medically necessary, not just convenient.
This is exactly the kind of situation where good documentation becomes crucial. I've been dealing with similar disability-related expenses, and what I've learned is that while the direct work expense deduction isn't available right now, there are still some paths forward. First, definitely keep detailed records of everything - receipts, medical documentation about your condition, correspondence with your employer about the accommodation request (or lack thereof). Even if you can't use these deductions now, having everything organized will be invaluable when the rules potentially change after 2025. Second, consider the medical expense angle that others mentioned. If your total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your AGI, transportation costs that are medically necessary can sometimes qualify. The key is proving medical necessity rather than just work convenience. Finally, I'd strongly encourage you to push back on your employer's accommodation stance. A shuttle that runs every 30 minutes isn't a reasonable accommodation if it prevents you from doing your job effectively. You might be surprised how quickly they find closer parking spots when presented with the actual legal requirements rather than their interpretation of them. The tax situation is frustrating, but don't let that be the only avenue you explore. Your employer has obligations here too.
This is really comprehensive advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about framing the shuttle issue as preventing me from doing my job effectively - that's a good angle. My biggest concern with the medical expense route is that I'm not sure my other medical costs will hit that 7.5% threshold, but I should calculate it to see. The documentation point is huge. I've been keeping receipts but I should probably get something more formal from my doctor explaining why the closer parking is medically necessary. Do you know what kind of documentation works best for this? Like does it need to be a specific form or just a letter from my physician? Also, completely agree about not giving up on the employer front. Maybe I need to approach it differently - less "can you help me" and more "here are your legal obligations.
I also got hit with a huge Form 8962 Premium Tax Credit payback this year. I called the marketplace and asked which plan in my area was the "benchmark plan" they use for calculations. Turns out my plan was $190/month more expensive! No wonder I owed so much. For 2025, I switched to a plan that's actually $20 less than the benchmark. According to the marketplace rep, this means I'll pay LESS than the 8.5% income cap. My advice: call the marketplace and specifically ask how your chosen plan compares to the benchmark plan price.
Do you know if there's any way to appeal the amount owed? I had no idea about this benchmark plan thing and now I owe over $2000 in Premium Tax Credit payback on Form 8962.
Unfortunately, there's no appeal process for Premium Tax Credit calculations if you simply chose a more expensive plan than the benchmark. The IRS considers this a valid calculation based on the law - you're responsible for the difference between your chosen plan and the benchmark plan. However, there are a few situations where you might have options: 1. If there was an error in your marketplace enrollment (like incorrect income reporting that affected your advance credits) 2. If you experienced a qualifying life event that changed your circumstances during the year 3. If you can demonstrate the marketplace provided incorrect information about plan costs Your best bet is to contact the marketplace first to verify the benchmark plan calculation was correct. If everything checks out, focus on choosing a plan closer to the benchmark price for next year to avoid this situation. The $2000 you owe is likely the result of 12 months of paying for a plan significantly more expensive than the benchmark - that adds up quickly. You could also consult a tax professional to see if there are any other credits or deductions you might be missing that could offset some of this liability.
This is really helpful information, thank you! I'm new to dealing with ACA plans and had no idea about the benchmark plan concept. I've been comparing plans based on monthly premiums and coverage, but never realized there was this underlying calculation that could result in owing thousands at tax time. One quick question - when you mention "qualifying life events," does getting married count? I got married mid-year 2024 and had to update my marketplace plan, but I'm not sure if that affects how the Premium Tax Credit payback is calculated on Form 8962. Also, does anyone know if there's a way to see what the benchmark plan cost was for your area during 2024? I'd like to calculate roughly what I might owe before I file my taxes.
just call irs and update ur address over the phone. way faster than mail.
good luck getting through to them tho š¤£
true dat. took me like 6 tries but worth it
Have you tried checking your refund status on the IRS website first? The "Where's My Refund" tool will tell you if there's an address issue before your check even gets mailed. If it shows your old address, you'll know for sure you need to update it. Also, some people have luck calling the refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954 - they can sometimes update your address faster than the form.
This is super helpful advice! I didn't even think to check the Where's My Refund tool first. Just checked and it still shows my old address š¬ Definitely calling that hotline tomorrow morning. Thanks for the tip!
@Kai Rivera That hotline number is clutch! I had no idea they could update addresses over the phone. Definitely trying this before doing all the paperwork. You might have just saved me weeks of waiting š
Just wanted to add one more thing that caught me off guard with my ISO disqualifying disposition - make sure you keep really detailed records of everything! The IRS might send you a letter asking about the discrepancy between your 1099-B and what you reported. I got a CP2000 notice about 8 months after filing because the IRS computer system saw my 1099-B showing a $4,920 gain but my tax return only showed capital gains of $2,452. Even though I reported everything correctly (bargain element as other income, adjusted cost basis), their automated system flagged it. I had to send back a response letter explaining the ISO tax treatment with copies of my exercise documentation, grant agreement, and a detailed calculation showing how I split the income. It all got resolved, but it was stressful for a few weeks. Having all your docs organized from the start makes responding to any IRS questions much easier!
This is such an important point that everyone should see! The CP2000 notices are really common with equity compensation because the IRS systems just do a simple match between 1099s and what's reported on your return. They don't automatically understand the tax treatment nuances. For anyone reading this thread, definitely keep a folder with: your original ISO grant agreement, exercise confirmations with FMV at exercise, sale confirmations, and a simple spreadsheet showing your calculations. When you file, consider attaching Form 8949 with a clear description in Column (f) like "ISO disqualifying disposition - bargain element reported as other income." Pro tip: if you do get a CP2000, don't panic! You have 30 days to respond, and as long as you can show your work like Emily did, they'll usually accept your explanation and close the case.
This is exactly the kind of detailed ISO discussion that helps so many people! Just want to emphasize one crucial point that might save others some headaches: when you report the bargain element as "Other Income" on Schedule 1 Line 8z, make sure your description is crystal clear. I recommend using something like "ISO disqualifying disposition bargain element - shares exercised 10/2023, sold 7/2024" rather than just "ISO bargain element." The more specific you are about the timing, the easier it is for the IRS to understand why this income isn't on your W-2. Also, for anyone in a similar situation - if your employer uses a stock administration platform, definitely reach out to them before filing. Sometimes they can issue a corrected 1099-MISC or supplemental wage statement that makes everything cleaner than the manual "other income" route. It's worth a phone call to see if they can properly report it as compensation income, even if it takes a few extra weeks to get the corrected documents. The approach everyone's outlined here is absolutely correct for handling it yourself, but getting the employer to fix it properly can sometimes prevent future IRS correspondence altogether.
Maxwell St. Laurent
Has anyone used TurboTax to help with RMD calculations for inherited IRAs? I'm trying to figure out if it can handle this situation or if I need something more specialized.
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PaulineW
ā¢I used TurboTax last year for my inherited IRA situation. It does ask about inherited retirement accounts but doesn't give great guidance on the 10-year rule specifically. It calculated what I owed after I took distributions, but didn't help me plan the best withdrawal strategy. I ended up using their tax professional add-on service to talk through it with someone.
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Caden Nguyen
I went through this exact situation when my aunt passed away in 2023. The key thing that helped me understand it was realizing that the SECURE Act completely changed the rules for deaths after 2019. What really matters is that you're a non-spouse beneficiary inheriting after 2019 - the fact that your uncle was already taking RMDs doesn't change your obligations as the beneficiary. You get the 10-year rule, period. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: start thinking about your withdrawal strategy now, even if you don't need the money immediately. I spread mine out over 4 years to stay in lower tax brackets, and it saved me thousands compared to what I would have paid taking it all at once. The flexibility is actually a huge advantage once you understand the rules!
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