I wanted to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet but could be really important for your situation - make sure to ask your wife's ophthalmologist about getting a formal visual field test done specifically under different lighting conditions if she hasn't had one recently. Many people with albinism show dramatic differences in their visual field measurements between dim and bright lighting. While her corrected acuity might be better than 20/200 in controlled settings, her functional visual field could easily drop below the 20-degree threshold when exposed to normal lighting due to the photophobia and lack of pigmentation you described. I've seen cases where people assumed they didn't qualify for blind status because their standard eye exam results looked "too good," but when tested under realistic lighting conditions, they clearly met the visual field criteria. Since your wife's condition specifically involves light sensitivity that restricts her field of vision in bright environments, this type of testing could provide exactly the documentation you need. Also, if cost is a concern for additional testing, many ophthalmologists will include basic visual field measurements as part of a routine comprehensive exam when they understand it's needed for tax documentation purposes. Just explain the situation upfront when scheduling the appointment.

As someone who has been through this exact process with my daughter who has severe photophobia from a genetic condition, I want to emphasize how crucial it is to be very specific about requesting functional vision testing under various lighting conditions. When we first tried to get documentation, her ophthalmologist provided a standard letter that didn't adequately capture how dramatically her vision deteriorates in normal lighting. We had to go back and specifically request testing that measured her visual field and functional acuity under "typical indoor fluorescent lighting" and "outdoor daylight conditions" - not just the dim, controlled lighting used in standard eye exams. The difference was striking. In the exam room lighting, her visual field measured around 25-30 degrees. But under fluorescent lighting similar to what she encounters in stores, schools, and offices, her functional visual field dropped to about 15 degrees due to severe light sensitivity and photophobic response. That documentation made all the difference for our tax filing. I'd also recommend asking the doctor to include language about how the light sensitivity creates "functional visual field constriction" even when static measurements might appear normal. This helps bridge the gap between clinical testing and real-world disability. The IRS does understand that some conditions create situational blindness that standard eye exams don't capture. Keep pushing for comprehensive documentation - it's worth the extra effort upfront to avoid potential issues later.

I've used H&R Block's virtual tax pro service for three consecutive tax years and can confirm their current processing delays. Here's what you need to do to expedite your return: 1. Login to your H&R Block account 2. Navigate to the Message Center (not the general status page) 3. Send a direct message to your assigned preparer requesting status 4. If no response within 24 hours, call the Priority Support line at their main number 5. Reference your specific submission ID when speaking with representatives Their system prioritizes returns based on both submission date and client follow-up frequency. I've consistently found that a single follow-up message moves your return higher in their queue.

I'm in the exact same boat! Submitted my return 3 days ago through their virtual service and still stuck on "awaiting professional review" with zero communication. What's frustrating is that I specifically chose H&R Block over doing it myself because I needed the peace of mind of professional review for my small business expenses, but now I'm wondering if I would have been better off just filing myself through their DIY software. Has anyone had success reaching them through their chat feature, or is calling really the only way to get answers? I'm worried about missing the deadline if this drags on much longer.

This is really helpful information! I've been putting off dealing with my FBAR requirements because I wasn't sure if my small foreign accounts even mattered. Reading through all these responses clarifies a lot - especially the point about aggregating ALL foreign accounts to hit that $10,000 threshold. I have a similar situation with a Revolut account (also UK-based) where I keep some Euros and GBP for travel. Never more than $2,000 total, but good to know I need to track the combined balances with any other foreign accounts I might open. The automatic October extension is also news to me - takes some pressure off since I'm always scrambling to get my regular taxes done by April 15th. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with both the tools and actually getting through to the IRS. This community is incredibly valuable for navigating these complex international tax requirements!

Just wanted to add a practical tip for anyone tracking their foreign account balances throughout the year - I set up monthly calendar reminders to screenshot my account balances and save them in a dedicated folder. This way I don't have to scramble at tax time trying to remember what my highest balances were. For Wise specifically, their monthly statements show the balance on the last day of each month, but you might hit your peak balance mid-month. I learned this when I transferred $8,000 through my Wise account in March but only kept it there for 3 days before sending it overseas. That brief spike still counted toward my FBAR threshold calculation even though my month-end statement showed a much lower balance. Also, don't forget that joint accounts count too! If you have signature authority over your spouse's foreign accounts or any business accounts, those balances get included in your $10,000 threshold calculation as well.

My brother is a contractor and I can tell you exactly what's happening here. They're probably reporting much less income than they actually make, and 1099s make that harder to do. That's why they're pushing back so hard. Send a final written notice (certified mail) stating that you'll be filing the 1099s for the full amount as legally required, whether or not they provide W-9s. Include IRS Form W-9 and a prepaid return envelope. State clearly that failure to provide the information may result in them being subject to backup withholding on future payments. Keep copies of everything. If they still don't provide the W-9s, file the 1099s with whatever information you have (name, address, etc.) and indicate they refused to provide their taxpayer ID. The IRS will handle it from there.

Wait, I'm confused about something - I have a rental property and pay people for repairs all the time. Am I supposed to be collecting W-9s from everyone? Like even the guy who mows the lawn for $50 a week? This is the first I'm hearing about this requirement...

Wait, no one's mentioned the tax trap with refinancing! If you took cash out and didn't use that money for rental property improvements, that portion of interest isn't deductible as a rental expense! Say you owed $150k, refinanced for $200k, and used that extra $50k for personal expenses - the interest on 75% of your loan is rental expense but 25% is personal. Easy to mess this up.

Great question about refinancing costs! I went through this exact situation last year and it's definitely confusing at first. From my research and experience, you're on the right track. The $3,100 in loan origination fees and points should be amortized over the life of your new loan - so if it's a 30-year loan, you'd deduct about $103 per year ($3,100 ÷ 30 years). The remaining $4,100 in closing costs (attorney fees, title search, recording fees, etc.) can typically be deducted as ordinary rental expenses in 2024. Just make sure to review your closing statement line by line since some fees might have specific rules. One tip: if you refinanced mid-year, remember that you can only deduct the portion of the amortized costs that corresponds to the months the loan was active in 2024. So if you closed in July, you'd only deduct 6/12 of that annual $103 amount for 2024. The fact that your tax software is handling the origination fees and points correctly is a good sign - it sounds like you're set up properly!