Discussion:Dependant Medical Expenses
From TaxAlmanac, A Free Online Resource
Note: You are using this website at your own risk, subject to our Disclaimer and Website Use and Contribution Terms.
From TaxAlmanac
Discussion Forum Index --> Tax Questions --> Dependant Medical Expenses
| 9 July 2007 | |
| My client has a dependant on disability with less than $3,300 income per year. Taxpayer paid some expenses direct and forwarded funds to dependant to pay other expenses. During the year, the dependant paid for medicines from funds furnished by taxpayer. Can taxpayer deduct these expenses on return? | |
| 9 July 2007 | |
| Yes, if the dependent has qualifying medical expenses, they are deductible. | |
| 9 July 2007 | |
| Only a parent dependant does not have to live with adult child to be a dependant. If the dependant is some other relative, must live with t/p. | |
| 9 July 2007 | |
| Hi alot of good stuff above but no "answer"(sandy you werent clear as to who gets the deduction and solomon you're rignt but no answer). First a qualifying relative does not have to live with the taxpayer(birg you're out altogether :)). Second the question was can the taxpayer take the medical expenses paid by the dependent? I looked at the rules and couldnt find any distinguishing of medical expenses paid BY the dependent versus the taxpayer. Medical expenses are deductilbe if FOR the taxpayer or dependent. I vote to take on the taxpayers return regardless of who pays. bye | |
| 9 July 2007 | |
| If you give your child (a dependent) $20 to buy his asthma medicine, is that deductible to you, or the child? Now is there a difference if that dependent is not your child? | |
| 10 July 2007 | |
| Wil - Dependency for medical purposes is not as restrictive as just claiming a dependent under normal rules. A dependent for medical expenses is any person for which an exemption is taken. It also includes anyone not claimed as a dependent for the following reasons:
1. Children of divorced or separated parents 2. Person supported by taxpayer made $3300 or more (2006) 3. Person supported by taxpayer filed joint return 4. When a dependent can't claim a dependency for another dependent Regarding the first part of your question, I think WesR answered that - assuming the child is a dependent to the TP. | |
| 10 July 2007 | |
| The general rule for claiming deductions for amounts paid by someone other than the taxpayer is that the funds used to pay the expenses must be under the dominion and control of the taxpayer to qualify as a deduction for the taxpayer. Thus, if the taxpayer forwarded money to his child with instructions to use the amounts for payment of medical bills, I see no problem with the parent claiming the deduction. | |
| 10 July 2007 | |
| I don't agree with your conclusion, Riley. Once the money is sent to the child it's out of the parent's control, unless, I suppose, there's some sort of legal requirement on how the child must spend it, such as a binding agreement. So I don't think the parent gets the deduction. -- Larry Hess, CPA | Albuquerque, NM | Talk to me | |
To join in on this discussion, you must first
log in.
