I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on what everyone has shared, it sounds like the key steps are: 1) Complete Part IV allocation for each policy separately, 2) Use 100% allocation since both policies only cover your tax family, and 3) Make sure to use the SLCSP for your entire household size, not just the people on each individual policy. One thing I'm still unclear about though - do you complete just one Form 8962 total, or do you need separate forms for each policy? From what I'm reading, it seems like it's one form but with the allocation worksheets handling the multiple policies. Also, has anyone run into issues where the allocated amounts don't match up with what's on your 1095-A forms? I'm getting some discrepancies in my calculations and wondering if I'm missing something fundamental about how the allocation percentages work. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this form is definitely more complex than it should be for situations like this!

I've been following this thread and wanted to share something that might help everyone dealing with this situation. I work as a tax preparer and see this split coverage scenario frequently, especially with blended families or when parents have employer coverage but put kids on Marketplace plans. The most common error I see is people trying to prorate their household income between the different policies - DON'T do this! Your household income and Federal Poverty Line percentage stays the same across all policies. You're only allocating the premium amounts, SLCSP, and advance premium tax credits in Part IV. Also, a critical point that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you received advance premium tax credits for both policies during the year, you absolutely must reconcile BOTH on Form 8962. I've seen taxpayers think they only need to report one policy and then get hit with Notice CP75C from the IRS demanding repayment of the unreported advance credits. One more tip - if your situation is really complex (multiple job changes, coverage gaps, etc.), consider filing for an automatic 6-month extension. Form 8962 mistakes can be expensive to fix, and it's better to get it right the first time than deal with amended returns and potential penalties later.

I've been helping students with VITA certification for several years now, and the timing issues you're experiencing are unfortunately very common. The IRS Link & Learn system typically has its most reliable access from September through April, which aligns with the tax preparation season. A few additional tips that might help: 1) Try accessing the system early in the morning (before 9 AM EST) when server traffic is typically lighter 2) Make sure you're using a supported browser - Chrome and Firefox usually work best with the IRS systems 3) Disable any ad blockers or browser extensions that might interfere with the site functionality If you're still having trouble, I'd recommend reaching out to the IRS VITA/TCE helpline at 1-877-572-4353. They can often troubleshoot specific technical issues and provide alternative access methods. The certification is definitely worth the effort - it opens doors to internships and entry-level positions at tax preparation firms, and the practical experience you'll gain is invaluable for your accounting career. Many of my former students have told me that VITA experience was what set them apart in job interviews.

I went through the exact same frustration when I was trying to get VITA certified as an accounting student! The system maintenance periods are really poorly communicated, which makes it so confusing for newcomers. One thing that helped me was joining the VITA Facebook groups and following some of the VITA coordinators on LinkedIn - they often post updates about when the system will be back online or if there are known issues. The Facebook group "VITA/TCE Tax Preparers" has been particularly helpful for getting real-time updates from other volunteers and coordinators. Also, don't overlook your state's VITA program coordinator. Each state has one, and they're usually much more responsive than trying to go through the national IRS channels. You can find your state coordinator's contact info on the IRS VITA state coordinator directory. The certification process is definitely worth pushing through these technical hurdles. I've been volunteering for two tax seasons now, and it's given me so much practical experience that I reference constantly in my tax classes and job interviews. Stick with it!

I've been dealing with a similar AMT credit situation and wanted to share something that might help others here. After reading through all these responses, I realized I had been making a common mistake in my understanding. I always thought the AMT credit was supposed to be a dollar-for-dollar refund of what I overpaid, but the reality is much more nuanced. The credit can only be used to reduce your tax liability down to your tentative minimum tax level - never below it. This means in years where your regular tax and TMT are close together, you'll only be able to use a small portion of your credit. What's been helpful for me is tracking this over multiple years and seeing the pattern. In higher income years where I have more regular tax liability relative to my TMT, I can use much more of the credit. It's frustrating that it takes so long, but at least understanding the mechanics helps me plan better. One thing I've learned is that certain life changes - like moving to a state with higher income taxes, having years with capital gains, or changes in deduction patterns - can actually create more opportunities to use the credit faster than expected.

I've been through this exact same frustration with AMT credits from ISO exercises! One thing that really helped me understand the limitation better was learning that the AMT credit carryforward isn't just about getting back what you "overpaid" - it's specifically designed to prevent double taxation over time, but only when your regular tax system would otherwise tax you more heavily than the AMT system would. The key insight that changed my perspective was realizing that in years when your tentative minimum tax is close to your regular tax, you're essentially in a situation where both tax systems are treating you fairly similarly, so there's less "double taxation" to correct for. The credit becomes most valuable in years when there's a significant gap between the two calculations. For practical planning, I've found it helpful to think about multi-year strategies. Things like bunching charitable deductions in alternating years, timing capital gains realization, or even considering Roth conversions in strategic years can all affect the regular tax vs. TMT gap. It's also worth noting that as you get further away from the ISO exercise date, your income patterns might naturally change in ways that create better opportunities to use the credits. The waiting game is definitely frustrating, but understanding the underlying logic has helped me be more patient and strategic about it.

This is such valuable information! I've been struggling with this exact issue as a freelance consultant. One thing I'd add is to be extra careful about the "temporary vs. indefinite" assignment rule. If you're working at the same out-of-town location for more than a year, the IRS might consider it a regular workplace rather than temporary travel, which could affect your mileage deductions. I learned this the hard way when I had a 14-month contract at a client site. The IRS questioned whether my travel there was truly "temporary" business travel. Fortunately, I had good documentation showing the contract was originally for 6 months and got extended multiple times, which helped prove it started as temporary work. Also, don't forget to track your mileage to and from airports if you're flying to business destinations! That local travel is deductible too and can add up over the year.

As someone who works from home and does frequent client visits, I want to emphasize how important it is to establish your home office properly with the IRS. Make sure you're actually using the home office deduction (Form 8829) if you qualify - this solidifies your home as your tax home and makes all those business trips clearly deductible. One mistake I see people make is being inconsistent about their "regular workplace." If you sometimes work from coffee shops, co-working spaces, or client offices regularly, it can muddy the waters about where your actual tax home is located. The cleaner you can make the case that your home office is your primary workplace, the stronger your mileage deduction claims will be. Also keep in mind that if you use the simplified home office deduction method, you can still claim all your business mileage - the two deductions work together, not against each other. I've seen people worry unnecessarily that taking the simplified home office deduction would somehow limit their mileage claims.

As someone who's worked in tax preparation for years, I want to emphasize that documentation is absolutely crucial for hearing aid deductions. Keep all receipts, insurance correspondence (even denials), and any medical documentation about your hearing loss. One thing I don't see mentioned here is that if you're claiming hearing aids as a medical expense, make sure to include ALL related costs - not just the devices themselves. This includes audiologist visits, hearing tests, batteries, maintenance, and even travel expenses to medical appointments. These ancillary costs can add up and help you reach that 7.5% AGI threshold for medical deductions. Also, be aware that if you later receive any insurance reimbursement or settlement related to these hearing aids, you may need to include that as income if you previously deducted the expense. The IRS calls this the "tax benefit rule" - basically you can't double-dip on the tax benefit.

Just wanted to add another option that might help - if your employer offers a Dependent Care FSA or if you have access to a Health Savings Account through a high-deductible health plan, you can use those pre-tax dollars for hearing aids. This gives you an immediate tax benefit rather than waiting to see if you can clear the 7.5% AGI hurdle for medical deductions. Also, if you're considering financing the hearing aids, some medical financing companies offer interest-free periods. While the interest itself isn't deductible, spreading the cost over time might help you better manage the expense while still allowing you to claim the full deduction in the year you became liable for the payment. One more tip - if you're close to retirement or expect lower income next year, it might be worth considering whether to accelerate other medical expenses into this tax year to help reach that 7.5% threshold, or alternatively, defer the hearing aid purchase if possible to a year when your AGI will be lower and the threshold easier to meet.