Just found out being legally blind affects my taxes - what impact does this have?

Thanks so much for the info! That's really helpful. If I'm understanding correctly, I've potentially been missing out on nearly $2k in additional deductions each year? That's frustrating. Do I need my doctor to fill out a specific form, or is a regular letter from them stating I meet the legal blindness criteria sufficient? Also, is this something most tax software automatically asks about? I've been using TurboTax but don't remember seeing this question prominently.

You don't need a special form from your doctor - a letter or medical records confirming your legally blind status is sufficient. Keep this documentation with your tax records in case of audit, but you don't submit it with your return. Most tax software does ask about this, but it might be in a section about "personal information" or "special situations" rather than prominently featured. In TurboTax, they typically ask when entering your personal information or when determining your standard deduction. It's often a simple checkbox asking if you (or spouse) are blind.

Does this actually work for specific medical conditions like blindness? I thought these AI systems were just for general tax help. Can it really identify specific deductions I'm missing based on medical documentation?

I'm a bit skeptical about using an online tool for something this specific. How does it handle the documentation requirements? My husband is legally blind and we've been claiming the deduction, but did you have to upload medical records too?

It absolutely works for specific conditions like blindness. When you upload your returns, the system specifically looks for missed exemptions and deductions including medical-related ones like the additional standard deduction for blindness. It flagged the missing blindness status immediately for me. Regarding documentation, you don't actually upload your medical records to the system. The tool identifies what you're eligible for and explains what documentation you need to keep on hand in case of an audit. In my case, it specified exactly what type of documentation from my ophthalmologist would satisfy IRS requirements while walking me through the amendment process.

Wait, seriously? How does this even work? I've been trying to get through to the IRS for three weeks about an issue with my amended return. Are you saying this service somehow jumps the phone queue?

This sounds like a scam. There's no way any service can get you through to the IRS faster. They probably just connect you to some fake "agent" who doesn't actually work for the IRS. Has anyone verified this is legitimate?

It's not about jumping the queue - the service uses an algorithm that identifies the best times to call when wait times are shortest and then uses automated technology to wait on hold for you. When an actual IRS agent picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent. It's completely legitimate. I was also skeptical at first, but it's just smart technology handling the frustrating hold time instead of you having to do it yourself. The agents are 100% real IRS employees - they verify all your information just like they would on a regular call. They have no affiliation with Claimyr, which is just the service that connected the call.

Oh that's a great point I hadn't even considered! Do you know if there's a resource that shows which states offer these benefits? I'm in California and now I'm wondering if I'm missing state benefits too.

California definitely has additional benefits for visually impaired taxpayers! They follow a similar standard to the federal definition for legal blindness. The best resource is usually your state's department of revenue website - for California, that's the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). You should also look into California's Blind Tax Exemption Credit which is separate from the deduction. It's worth checking both your state's general tax website and also any state services for the visually impaired, as they often have tax guidance specific to your situation.

I amended 3 years of returns to add the blindness deduction and didn't get audited. Just make sure you have proper documentation from your eye doctor. The letter should specifically state that you meet the IRS definition of legally blind - vision that cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in the better eye or a field of vision of 20 degrees or less.

This is such valuable information! I never thought about the workplace aspect. I'm curious - do you know if there are any limitations on what kinds of assistive technology qualify for deductions? I use screen reading software and have some specialized equipment at home that I sometimes use for work purposes. Would something like a braille display or voice recognition software potentially be deductible if it's used for work? Also, your point about tax preparers not being familiar with this is so true. I've been going to the same CPA for years and I'm now wondering if I should specifically ask them about reviewing my past returns for any missed disability-related deductions. It seems like there might be more opportunities than just the standard deduction increase that most people talk about.

This is incredibly detailed and helpful! I had no idea about the "primarily for medical care" requirement or getting a letter from your eye doctor specifically about equipment being medically necessary. That's such smart documentation to have. I'm curious about the transportation expenses you mentioned - are you referring to things like getting to and from eye doctor appointments? Or does this extend to other vision-related medical appointments? I do a lot of specialized vision therapy and orientation/mobility training, and those appointments can really add up travel-wise. Also, when you say "multiple angles" for disability-related deductions, are there other categories besides medical expenses and equipment that people commonly miss? I feel like I'm just scratching the surface of what might be available. Your point about being proactive with the CPA is well taken - I'm definitely going to schedule a specific meeting just to go through potential missed deductions!