One thing nobody's mentioned yet - make sure you're actually looking at the right IRS publication. You need Publication 502 (Medical and Dental Expenses), not just the HSA-specific publications. It gives the full list of what the IRS considers deductible medical expenses. The key language is on page 5: "Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and for the treatments affecting any part or function of the body." Surgery to repair muscles separated during weight loss would seem to fit under "treatments affecting any function of the body." Just make sure your documentation emphasizes functional improvement, not aesthetic benefits.

I went through something very similar with my husband's hernia repair that insurance initially denied as "elective." What ultimately worked for us was getting both his primary care doctor and the surgeon to write detailed letters explaining how the condition was affecting his daily activities and long-term health risks. The key was having them document specific functional limitations - like difficulty lifting our toddler, discomfort during exercise, and the surgeon's assessment that without repair, the condition would likely worsen and potentially lead to more serious complications. We avoided any mention of cosmetic concerns and focused entirely on the medical necessity. We used our HSA funds for the $6,200 procedure and kept all documentation. It's been over a year now with no issues from the IRS. The most important thing I learned is that insurance denial doesn't automatically disqualify something from HSA use - they're using completely different standards for what's considered "medically necessary." I'd definitely recommend getting that Letter of Medical Necessity from both doctors before proceeding. Make sure they emphasize how the diastasis recti is affecting your husband's physical function and what risks exist if left untreated. That documentation will be your protection if any questions arise later.

To get help from TAS, follow these exact steps: 1. Prepare documentation of ALL previous contact with the IRS (dates, times, who you spoke with, what was said) 2. Gather evidence of financial hardship (shut-off notices, eviction warnings, medical bills, etc.) 3. When you call, clearly state: "I need TAS assistance because I've exhausted normal IRS channels and am facing imminent financial hardship" 4. Be specific about what will happen if your tax issue isn't resolved (exact dates and consequences) 5. If initially rejected, ask: "What specific criteria am I not meeting for TAS assistance?" 6. Request the agent document your contact in case you need to escalate later Have you already tried contacting the specific IRS department that handles your tax issue directly?

I went through this exact process about 6 weeks ago and want to share what actually worked for me. The key is being very specific about your hardship and having documentation ready BEFORE you call. When I called TAS, I had: - Screenshots of my bank account showing insufficient funds - A notice from my mortgage company about missed payments - Documentation of 5+ failed attempts to reach the right IRS department - Exact dates and reference numbers from previous calls The intake specialist asked me three main questions: 1. "What specific financial hardship will occur and when?" 2. "What attempts have you made to resolve this through normal IRS channels?" 3. "Do you have documentation to support both your hardship and your previous attempts?" I was honest and said I'd miss my mortgage payment in 12 days if my refund didn't come through, and I had the bank statements to prove it. They accepted my case that same day. The biggest mistake I see people make is being vague about their situation. Don't just say "I need my refund" - explain exactly what will happen and when. Good luck! 🤞

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - if you do qualify for trader tax status, consider making the mark-to-market election on your taxes. This lets you deduct net losses against ordinary income without the $3,000 capital loss limitation. But be careful! The mark-to-market election is irrevocable without IRS permission. And you have to make it by the tax filing deadline of the previous year (so for 2025, you'd need to elect by April 15, 2025). Many crypto traders miss this deadline and lose the opportunity. Also worth noting: wash sale rules don't apply with mark-to-market, which is huge for crypto traders who frequently trade the same coins.

I tried claiming trader tax status for my crypto trading in 2023 (was doing 50+ trades daily) and got audited. The IRS initially rejected my TTS claim, but I appealed with documentation showing: 1. My trading schedule (8+ hours daily) 2. Analysis software I purchased 3. Separate business accounts for trading 4. Trading journal with strategies They eventually accepted my TTS claim! Key points from my experience: - Documentation is EVERYTHING - They scrutinized my holding periods (anything held >30 days counted against me) - Having a formal business structure helped (I had an LLC) - They wanted to see I was trying to profit from short-term market movements, not just buying dips Hope this helps someone! The tax savings were substantial, but be prepared to defend your position.

I just went through this process myself! One important thing to note - while the SECURE Act 2.0 does extend the ESTABLISHMENT deadline to your tax filing date, there are still some practical considerations about CONTRIBUTIONS. If you're planning to make employee deferrals (the part that comes out of your own compensation), you technically need to have determined those amounts before the end of the calendar year. The employer contribution part (the 25% of net earnings) can be contributed up until your tax filing date. So while you CAN set up the plan in 2025 for 2024, you might be limited to just the employer contribution portion depending on how your plan provider handles this. Different providers have different interpretations of how this all works with the new rules.

Has anyone used Fidelity for their Solo 401k? I'm trying to decide between them and Vanguard for my photography business. Also wondering if anyone knows if these providers are fully updated on the SECURE Act 2.0 changes regarding the setup deadlines?

Has anyone used the Section 179 deduction for a heavy SUV/truck (>6000 lbs) through their LLC? I heard there's a special deduction limit that's higher for those vehicles and wondering if that makes it more worthwhile?

I've been through this exact scenario with my single-property LLC. After consulting with both my CPA and doing extensive research, I ultimately decided against buying a vehicle through the LLC, and here's why: The IRS scrutinizes vehicle deductions for single-property LLCs extremely carefully. You need to demonstrate legitimate business use, and with just one property, it's nearly impossible to justify the high percentage of business use required to make it worthwhile. I tracked my actual property-related driving for six months and found I was only using about 25% for legitimate business purposes (property visits, supply runs, contractor meetings, etc.). Instead, I opted for the standard mileage deduction on my personal vehicle. For 2024, that's 67 cents per mile for business use. I keep a detailed log using a simple smartphone app, and at the end of the year, I multiply my business miles by the standard rate. This approach is much simpler from a record-keeping perspective and eliminates the complications of mixed personal/business use. The administrative burden of LLC vehicle ownership (separate insurance, tracking personal vs. business use, potential imputed income for personal use) just wasn't worth the modest tax savings I would have achieved. Sometimes the simplest approach is the most tax-efficient one.