Below is an overview of itemizing medical deductions.
Medical Expenses
1. Medical Expenses are subject to a deductible of 7.5% of your gross income. This means that only expenses that exceed 7.5% of your income are deductible. Medical expenses often cannot be deducted for this reason unless a substantial amount is paid during the year.
2. Medical expenses can be deducted for you, your spouse, and your dependents (qualifying child or qualifying relative that you claim on your return). If you are divorced and you have joint custody, you can still deduct medical expenses for your child that you do not claim the exemption for in that year.
3. Any medical expenses or insurance that is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax cannot be included with itemized medical deductions.
4. Amounts paid for medical expenses from a Health Savings Account or Flexible Savings account cannot be included with itemized medical deductions because the contributions to these accounts are tax-free.
5. Deductible medical expenses include:
a. Doctor, hospital, and prescription drug expenses.
b. Acupuncture and chiropractic expenses.
c. Dental, hearing, and vision expenses including contact lenses/solution, glasses and hearing aids.
d. Fertility treatments, birth control pills, and pregnancy tests.
e. Mileage for vehicle trips taken for medical purposes.
f. Health, Dental, Vision, and Log-Term Care insurance premiums paid.
g. Amounts paid to a nursing home if the primary purpose for living in the nursing home is medical care.
h. Meals and lodging for trips taken to receive medical care (with certain restrictions).
i. Amounts paid for alcohol, drug, or nicotine addiction treatment except for any over-the-counter medicine.
j. Psychiatric care and therapy.
k. Special education expenses including tutors, tuition, and board if the child has a learning disability caused by a mental or physical impairment and the school is doctor recommended.
l. Amounts paid for weight-loss programs if they are doctor recommended. Health club costs (except separate weight-loss activity fees) and food costs are not included.
m. Capital improvements to your home or vehicle if the main purpose of the improvement is for medical care.
6. Non-deductible medical expenses include cosmetic surgery, vitamins and other nutritional supplements, non-prescription medicines, teeth whitening, maternity clothing.
There are additional deductible and non-deductible medical expenses not included on this list so please call or email us if you have any questions about your medical expenses.