What documentation do I need to claim my spouse as legally blind on taxes?

The IRS definition for blindness for tax purposes is actually pretty specific. Your spouse would qualify as legally blind if they have a certified statement from an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) stating either: 1) They cannot see better than 20/200 in their better eye with glasses or contact lenses, or 2) Their field of vision is 20 degrees or less. The key here is getting proper documentation. Ask the ophthalmologist to specifically address these criteria in their letter, and if your wife doesn't meet the exact standard definitions, have them explain why her condition would still qualify her as legally blind. The doctor should specifically mention the ocular albinism and explain how the inability to filter light functionally restricts her vision to a degree equivalent to the standard definition. Make sure the letter is signed and dated by the doctor and includes their credentials. Keep this documentation with your tax records - you don't submit it with your return, but you'll need it if you're ever audited.

After struggling with similar documentation issues, I found an amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped clear things up. I was trying to figure out how to claim my father as legally blind on my taxes, and the regular IRS guidance was confusing me. What I loved about taxr.ai was that I could upload our medical documentation and get immediate feedback on whether it would satisfy IRS requirements. They have these specialized document analyzers who review medical certifications and tell you exactly what's missing or what needs to be clarified. Saved me from getting rejected or audited later. They even provided a template for what the doctor should include in the certification letter.

Hey everyone, wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that was mentioned earlier. My situation with my dad's macular degeneration was really in a gray area for tax purposes, and I was getting different answers from everyone I asked. I decided to give the service a try and honestly, it was so much more helpful than I expected. They looked at my dad's existing documentation and immediately pointed out that while he didn't meet the standard 20/200 criteria, his functional vision loss could still qualify with the right documentation. They provided a specific template for his ophthalmologist that focused on functional limitations rather than just the numbers. With their guidance, we got a properly worded certification that clearly explained why he qualifies as legally blind for tax purposes despite not meeting the standard definition. Already used it for filing and it saved us over $1,800 in taxes. Definitely recommend for anyone in similar situations with vision impairments that don't fit neatly into the standard definitions!

After spending WEEKS trying to reach someone at the IRS about this exact issue, I finally found a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human at the IRS in less than 15 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I had a similar situation with my partner who has severe vision impairment but doesn't fit the exact IRS definition. I needed clarification on what documentation would be acceptable before we filed. After trying for days with the regular IRS number and getting nowhere, Claimyr connected me directly to an IRS agent who specializes in disability exemptions. They confirmed exactly what needed to be in the doctor's letter and even emailed me their internal guidance on vision impairment cases. Totally changed my perspective on dealing with the IRS. I thought it was impossible to get specific answers on complicated situations like this.

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment yesterday, I decided to try it this morning as a last resort before giving up on getting specific answers about vision impairment documentation. I was connected to an IRS representative in about 11 minutes (not even kidding). The agent was actually knowledgeable about disability qualifications and walked me through exactly what documentation is needed for cases that don't perfectly fit the standard definition of legal blindness. For anyone with a similar situation: the key is having the doctor specifically address how the functional limitation (like sensitivity to light that severely restricts vision) is equivalent to the standard definition. The agent said they see many cases of albinism and other conditions that don't meet the exact criteria but still qualify with proper documentation of functional impairment. Never thought I'd get such specific guidance directly from the IRS. Consider me impressed.

I just wanted to add that my brother has a similar condition, and we learned that you should also ask the doctor to specifically state in their letter that the condition is considered "permanent" if that's the case. This helps prevent having to get new certification every year. Also, make sure the doctor includes their medical license number on the letter - we had to go back and get this added when the IRS questioned our documentation during a review.

Has anyone claimed this while e-filing with TurboTax or similar? Do they ask for specific information about the blindness certification or do you just check a box?

Great question! I went through this exact same process with my husband who has albinism. The key is getting the ophthalmologist to write a letter that specifically addresses the IRS criteria while explaining how your wife's condition functionally impairs her vision. Here's what should be included in the letter: 1. Doctor's letterhead with full name, credentials, and medical license number 2. Statement that they have examined your wife and are familiar with her condition 3. Diagnosis of ocular albinism and explanation of how it affects vision 4. Specific mention that while her corrected vision may be better than 20/200 in controlled lighting, the inability to filter light causes severe functional vision impairment equivalent to legal blindness 5. Statement that the condition is permanent 6. Clear conclusion that she qualifies as legally blind for tax purposes The IRS understands that some conditions don't fit perfectly into the standard definitions but still cause equivalent functional impairment. The doctor should emphasize how the light sensitivity makes her vision severely restricted in normal daily activities, which is the key point for qualification. Keep the original letter with your tax records - you don't submit it with your return but need it available if ever questioned.