I went through a very similar situation with my adult disabled sister a few years ago. The SSA denial was definitely frustrating, but as others have mentioned, the IRS uses completely different criteria for disability determination. One thing I'd add that really helped me was creating a detailed monthly expense log showing exactly what I was paying for versus what my parents contributed. This made the "more than half support" calculation crystal clear if I ever got audited. I tracked rent/utilities (allocated based on household size), groceries, medical expenses, transportation, clothing - everything. Also, make sure to get multiple medical opinions documented if possible. I had my sister's primary care doctor, neurologist, and pain management specialist all write letters specifically addressing her inability to work according to the IRS definition. Having multiple medical professionals corroborate the same conclusion made me feel much more confident about the disability determination. The good news is that once you have the proper documentation, this becomes much more straightforward in future years. Keep digital copies of everything and create a filing system now - it'll save you so much stress later. Your brother is lucky to have someone looking out for him during such a difficult time.

This is such a helpful and comprehensive thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my adult son who has autism and intellectual disabilities. He was also denied SSDI initially, which was incredibly disheartening. One additional point I'd like to add - make sure you understand the difference between "totally and permanently disabled" for tax purposes versus just meeting the dependency tests. If your brother qualifies as totally and permanently disabled, you might be eligible for additional credits like the Credit for Other Dependents, which can be worth up to $500. Also, I found it really helpful to create a simple spreadsheet tracking all support expenses month by month. This way you can clearly demonstrate that you're providing more than 50% of his total support. Include things like: - Your share of rent/mortgage and utilities - Food expenses - Medical costs (including insurance premiums if you're covering him) - Transportation costs - Personal care items The IRS Publication 501 has some great worksheets for calculating support that really helped me organize everything. Don't let the SSA denial discourage you - the tax code recognizes that people can be unable to work even when SSA doesn't agree. Your brother is fortunate to have your support during this difficult time.

Thanks everyone for the detailed explanations! This has been incredibly helpful. I was definitely getting confused by some misleading information I found online about single-member LLCs having different rules. Just to confirm my understanding: For my consulting LLC with around $3,500 in startup costs (business license, legal fees for formation, initial website setup, and some market research), I can deduct the full amount in my first year on Schedule C since it's under the $5,000 threshold. And the $50,000 reduction rule doesn't apply to me since my costs are nowhere near that amount. I'm feeling much more confident about moving forward now. It's amazing how much clearer this becomes when you get accurate information from people who actually understand the tax code!

One thing I'd add for anyone reading this - make sure you elect to deduct startup costs on your tax return! The IRS doesn't automatically give you this deduction. You need to attach a statement to your first-year return (or file an amended return) making the Section 195 election to deduct startup costs. Without this election, all your startup costs would have to be amortized over 15 years instead of getting that nice $5,000 first-year deduction. I almost missed this when I started my LLC because my tax software didn't prompt me about it. Had to go back and amend my return to claim the election. The statement just needs to say something like "Election under Section 195 to deduct startup costs" and list the costs and amounts. Worth double-checking with a tax professional if you're not sure, but don't let this slip through the cracks!

I do bookkeeping for several digital nomads in similar situations. One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you form an S-Corp for your 1099 work and become an employee of your own corporation, you can potentially have your corporation reimburse you for travel under an "accountable plan" which could be more advantageous than taking Schedule C deductions. Might be worth looking into depending on your 1099 income level.

The S-Corp discussion is interesting, but there's another angle worth considering for your rental property income. If you're traveling to different locations and occasionally visiting your rental property for legitimate business purposes (inspections, meeting with contractors, handling tenant issues), you might be able to deduct those specific travel costs against your rental income even if the primary trip purpose was for your remote work. The key is documentation - keep records of any rental-related activities during your travels. Even a brief property inspection or meeting with a local property manager could make that portion of your travel deductible. Just make sure to allocate expenses properly between personal, 1099 business, and rental business purposes. Also, consider the home office deduction implications more carefully. If you're claiming a home office for your 1099 work, you'll need to reduce that deduction for the time you're away working from temporary locations. The math can get complex, but sometimes the temporary workspace deductions while traveling can actually exceed what you'd lose from the reduced home office deduction, especially if you're working from expensive locations.

Here's a detailed breakdown for anyone filing prior years: - Download correct year forms from IRS.gov - Gather all income docs (W2s, 1099s etc) - Use taxr.ai to analyze your situation first - seriously this saved me so much headache - Fill forms carefully, double check math - Make copies of EVERYTHING - Send via certified mail - Expected wait: 4-5 months minimum - Check transcript weekly for updates Biggest mistake people make is rushing through it. Take your time, do it right the first time. And definitely use taxr.ai before starting - it'll tell you exactly what to watch out for with your specific situation.

Don't stress too much about it! I was in the exact same situation last year - hadn't filed 2020 or 2021 and was totally overwhelmed. The key things that helped me: 1. Start with getting your wage transcripts online (like Emily mentioned) - way faster than waiting for mail 2. Use the actual IRS Free File forms for prior years, not the expensive software 3. Set aside a full weekend to focus on it without distractions 4. The IRS is surprisingly understanding about late filings if you don't owe money One thing nobody mentioned - if you're expecting refunds for those years, you have until April 15th, 2025 to claim your 2021 refund (3 year limit). So there's still time but don't wait much longer! You got this 💪

Ugh, the tax system is so outdated. Why should marriage even matter for taxes anyway? My partner and I have been together 11 years, share all finances, but can't file jointly because we don't have a piece of paper. So frustrating!

I work in tax preparation and see this mistake more often than you'd think. The key thing is that you need to act quickly to minimize penalties. File Form 1040-X for both of you as soon as possible - you'll each need to file as single taxpayers. The IRS has a "reasonable cause" provision that can help reduce penalties if you can show the error was made in good faith (not intentional fraud). Since you're voluntarily correcting it, that works in your favor. You'll owe the tax difference plus interest, but the penalty might be reduced or waived entirely. Pro tip: When you file the amended returns, include a brief explanation letter stating that the error was unintentional and you're correcting it voluntarily. This can help your case if they review the amendment.