Don't forget to check with your dental insurance first! Some plans cover Invisalign partially if it's medically necessary. Mine covered about 25% of the cost because my dentist documented that I had TMJ issues. That reduced the amount I needed to try claiming on taxes.

Great question! I went through this exact situation last year with my Invisalign treatment. The key is getting proper documentation from your orthodontist that clearly states the treatment is for medical necessity - jaw pain, bite correction, TMJ issues, etc. A few important points to consider: 1. **Medical expense deduction threshold**: You'll need total medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of your AGI to itemize and deduct. This includes ALL medical costs - insurance premiums, prescriptions, doctor visits, etc. 2. **HSA/FSA route**: This is often better than the tax deduction route since you use pre-tax dollars without meeting any threshold. Most FSA administrators will approve orthodontic work if you have documentation of medical necessity. 3. **Documentation is key**: Ask your orthodontist for a letter specifically stating that the Invisalign is being prescribed to treat your bite and alignment issues causing jaw pain. Most orthodontists are very familiar with providing this type of documentation. 4. **Track everything**: Keep receipts for the treatment cost, travel to appointments, and any related expenses. Given your situation with documented jaw pain and bite issues, you should definitely qualify for either the medical expense deduction (if you meet the threshold) or FSA reimbursement if your employer offers one. The medical necessity aspect is clearly established in your case.

Has anyone used the "qualifying relative" designation rather than "qualifying child" for an adult disabled sibling? I'm in a similar situation but my brother is 42 and permanently disabled from a work accident. Not a veteran but gets SSDI. The IRS publication is so confusing about which category to use.

Isaac, based on your detailed description, you should definitely be able to claim your brother as a qualifying relative dependent. The key points working in your favor: 1) **VA disability and SSDI don't count toward gross income test** - These tax-exempt benefits won't disqualify him from dependency status, regardless of the monthly amount. 2) **Support test calculation** - When calculating the 50% support test, include the fair rental value of his housing in your home, utilities, food, transportation, medical expenses not covered by insurance, and other living costs. Your brother's disability payments only count as "support he provides for himself" if he actually uses them for support expenses. 3) **Your caretaker role strengthens your case** - The fact that the VA officially designated you as his caretaker and recognizes his need for full-time care due to cognitive impairment from TBI supports the dependency relationship. 4) **Potential additional benefits** - As his caretaker, you may qualify for Head of Household filing status (if unmarried) and potentially the Credit for Other Dependents. Given his cognitive impairment and your role as his VA-designated caretaker, this seems like a clear-cut case for claiming him as a dependent. The IRS recognizes that disabled individuals may receive significant non-taxable benefits while still being legitimately dependent on others for support.

Has anyone here actually filed a gift tax return (Form 709)? Is it complicated? I'm trying to help my daughter with more than just $18k for her down payment but wondering if dealing with the paperwork is a nightmare.

This is such helpful information! My husband and I are in a similar situation - our son is looking to buy his first home and we want to help but were worried about tax implications. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned - does the timing of when the gift is actually received matter? Like if I write a check on December 30th but my son doesn't deposit it until January 3rd, which tax year does that count for? I want to make sure we maximize our giving by using both 2025 and 2026 limits but don't want to mess up the timing. Also, has anyone dealt with banks asking questions about large deposits from family gifts? I'm wondering if there's a standard way to document these properly for mortgage purposes.

Don't forget to check if your state handles inherited property the same way the IRS does! NY generally follows federal rules, but some states have their own twists on capital gains for inherited property. Just something to double-check.

This is a great question about Section 121 and inherited property! I went through something similar when I inherited my grandmother's house through intestate succession in Pennsylvania. One thing I learned that might be helpful - you should also consider getting a professional appraisal for the property's value at the date of death if you don't already have one. This establishes your stepped-up basis officially and can be crucial if the IRS ever questions your capital gains calculation. In my case, I had lived in the inherited house for 3 years before selling, so I easily qualified for Section 121. But even if I hadn't, the stepped-up basis meant my actual capital gain was much smaller than it would have been if I had purchased the property myself years ago. Also, make sure to keep detailed records of when you moved in and made it your primary residence. The IRS can be pretty strict about proving the 2-year residency requirement, so having utility bills, voter registration changes, and other documentation showing it was your principal residence will be important if you're ever audited.

I've been reading through all these responses and they're incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - making decent money from day trading but locked out of retirement contributions due to the earned income requirement. The educational content route that several people mentioned is really appealing. I've been keeping detailed trading journals and developing some solid strategies for swing trading tech stocks. It sounds like there's real demand for legitimate trading education, and it would let me generate earned income while sharing knowledge I already have. One question for those who've gone this route: how do you balance the time commitment between creating educational content and your actual trading? I'm worried about it cutting into my market research time, especially during volatile periods when I need to be fully focused on my positions. Also, has anyone run into issues with compliance or regulations when offering trading education? I want to make sure I stay on the right side of SEC rules while building a legitimate business that qualifies for IRA contributions. The trader status election also sounds interesting, but honestly the educational approach seems more straightforward and less likely to raise red flags with the IRS. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has given me more clarity than months of research!

I've been following this discussion with great interest as someone who's dealt with this exact frustration. After being locked out of IRA contributions for two years due to only having trading income, I finally found a solution that worked for me. Like many of you mentioned, I went the educational content route and it's been incredibly effective. I started by creating a simple course on risk management for options traders (something I wish I'd learned earlier in my trading journey). What surprised me was how much demand there was for practical, real-world trading education from someone who's actually making consistent profits. The key thing I learned is that you don't need to be a guru or have millions in profits to provide value. People want to learn from traders who are consistently profitable and can explain their strategies clearly. I generated about $9,500 in earned income last year from educational content, which allowed me to max out my IRA contribution for the first time in years. A few practical tips for anyone considering this path: - Start with what you know best. If you're successful with covered calls, teach that. If you've mastered risk management, focus there. - Keep detailed business records from day one. Time spent, expenses, client interactions - all of it matters for establishing this as legitimate earned income. - You don't need fancy production. Some of my best-selling content is just screen recordings of me explaining trades with simple PowerPoint slides. The time commitment is manageable - I probably spend 8-10 hours per week on educational content, and it hasn't hurt my trading performance. If anything, explaining my strategies to others has made me more disciplined in following them myself. Happy to answer any specific questions about getting started with this approach!