Medical Expenses - Itemized Deductions
Medical Expenses - Overlooked Deductions
Medical Expenses - Maximize Your Deductions
Self-Employed Health Insurance
Medical Expenses for Long-Term Care
Medical Expenses - Itemized Deductions
If you itemize your deductions, you may be able to deduct medical expenses.
You can deduct the amount that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.
Generally, you are allowed to deduct unreimbursed medical, eye care, and
dental expenses for yourself and for someone who was your spouse or your
dependent when you paid the expenses. Advance payments are not deductible
until the service is rendered.
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Medical Expenses - Overlooked Deductions
Do not overlook any medical deductions for which you may qualify. Hearing aids,
eye glasses, contact lenses, hospital fees for nursing, physical therapy,
weight-loss programs prescribed for obesity, lab tests, and x-rays are all
deductible. The mileage to and from a doctor's or dentist's office is deductible
at 12 cents per mile as are parking fees and bus or taxi costs.
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Medical Expenses - Maximize Your Deductions
If you file Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and itemize your
deductions, you may deduct medical expenses that are over 7.5% of your adjusted
gross income. Careful tax planning may allow you to plan ahead so that you
could take more medical deductions during one tax year instead of spreading
them over two. For example, in a year that you already have substantial medical
expenses, schedule and pay for your routine doctor or dentist appointments
by December 31 instead of early in the next year.
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Self-Employed Health Insurance
If you are self-employed, you may deduct up to 100% of your medical insurance
costs that cover yourself, your spouse, and your dependents on Form 1040
as an adjustment to income. To do this, you and your spouse must not be eligible
to participate in an employer-subsidized health plan.
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Medical Expenses for Long-Term Care
The costs of qualified long-term care services can generally be included as
medical expenses. These costs include a part of the premiums for qualified
long-term care insurance. Long-term care insurance premiums covering these
qualified services are deductible as medical expenses (subject to the 7.5%
of the adjusted gross income limit and certain age limitations). |