Tax time . . medical expenses

[Bucky]

Hi everyone.  I know this might be too late for some, but just wanted to mention that if you haven't done your taxes yet for the April 15th deadline here in the US, that if you have lots of out-of-pocket medical expenses for 2008 to add them up and they might be counted towards a tax break.  "Just for the heck" of it, I quickly jotted down all our out-of-pocket expenses and took them to our tax app't. yesterday.  We had over $11,000 and we DID get a tax break.  Yay!!  I'm sure if I had been keeping track of all the other little things (eye drops, mouth rinses, hubbies diabetic supplies) that we have bought throughout the year, that dollar amount would have counted too.  We just didn't think about it.  Hopefully, in 2009 we won't have that major dollar amount like we did last year, but I'm going to keep track of expenses just the same.  Every little bit that stays in our pocket helps! 

Bucky

[wednesday mc haggis]

bucky

we dont have that problem in the UK, but yayyyyyyyyyyy!!!

good to hear someone somewhere is getting a break and good information for those it helps:)

T x

[Billydude]

Bucky,  Is that only if you are itemizing?   I have a tax appointment today.  Since I'm on disability now there is not much to claim and I'm being counted as a dependant on partners taxes.
Steve

[Bucky]

Steve,

I don't think we itemize on our taxes.  I'm not sure . . by the time I ask my hubby you will probably have already been to your app't. 

If you can gather the info up real quick and take it with you just in case.  Good Luck

Bucky

[Patze]

Hi Bucky,

I'm glad to see that you're going to get a benefit from all those taxes that you paid!  Yahoo!

I haven't done mine yet, and I did add the medical (for last year) and it was just less than 10 percent of my wages - so no benefit for me this year, boohoo.  Hopefully next year I will be able to claim a bit of it.

Take care -

Patze

[Billydude]

I gathered the info but it didn't help this time.  It will help next year when I'll be officially a dependant of my partner.  But,  had you not mentioned it I wouldn't have found out about next year so thanks.
Steve

[Bucky]

You're welcome Steve.  Sorry it didn't work out for you this year. 

I know for myself it will be easier to start keeping track of this stuff for 2009 now instead of waiting until the whole year has gone by before starting.  If I don't have enough bills (ha) to qualify, then so be it, at least I will have it if I need it.

Bucky

[Bucky]

It's me again 

A couple more things that you might want to take note of for taxes in 2009.  Did you know you can deduct mileage for medical appointments?  Also mileage for charitable activities.  I know several members travel a great distance to go to their doctors . . keep track of your mileage and deduct it on your taxes. 

Any way we can save ourselves some money as we travel down this road of Sjogren's is money is OUR pocket. 

Bucky

[joschwartz]

Bucky,

Are you saying that whoever did your taxes allowed you to deduct over the counter products like eye drops, mouth rinses, etc as medical expenses on Schedule A?   I've been told that even if the products are necessary for the treatment of a disease condition, if they don't require a doctor's prescription, you can't deduct them.    If you know something different, I'd love to hear it because I've been keeping track of those kinds of things just in case, and like every year, I'm still working on my taxes at this late date

jo

[Bucky]

Jo,

Sorry I'm so late getting back to you, I've been out-of-town. 

I stopped by the tax office today to drop off some papers and asked them about deducting non-prescription eye drops, alcohol swabs, syringes, etc. and they told me yes, it could be deducted.  So, I don't know.  I'm gonna call them again in a couple weeks after tax season winds down and ask my tax person again just to make sure.

Obviously, it won't help for the 2008 taxes, but we'll know for next year.  Every little bit helps. 

Bucky

[irish]

The OTC eye drops can be deducted --- think this was a new rule in the past year or so. Seems like it was addressed in the Sjogren's Moisture Seekers magazine.

Also, make sure to tell you tax person your health insurance cost if you pay for it yourself. A percentage of this is also deductible. Years ago I got a script for our air conditioning as I really need it. Tax man told me to add the monthly electric bill up and then deduct that figure by 12. For instance, say you electic bill is 1463$ a year. Divide this by 12 and you will get 121.90$ which you can round off to 121$. Any monthly electric cost that is higher than 122$ can be used. The 122$ is subtracted from that figure and that number can be used. The months that have a cost lower than 122$ can't be used. Add up those figures and that is what is deductible.

Also, be aware that celiac disease diets that use special foods can have a certain percentage deducted, but I can't remember how this goes. Go to   http://www. Celiac. com   to see if they have the formula. If they don't your tax man may have it. Also, need to save the receipts and will need a script from the doctor.

I have to check and see if the nasal spray powders you buy in the 100 count packages can be deducted also. I need to get more organized. Cripes, if I get more organized I will probably end up getting audited. Irish

[joschwartz]

Jo,

Sorry I'm so late getting back to you, I've been out-of-town. 

I stopped by the tax office today to drop off some papers and asked them about deducting non-prescription eye drops, alcohol swabs, syringes, etc. and they told me yes, it could be deducted.  So, I don't know.  I'm gonna call them again in a couple weeks after tax season winds down and ask my tax person again just to make sure.

Obviously, it won't help for the 2008 taxes, but we'll know for next year.  Every little bit helps. 

Bucky

Bucky, 

Thanks for replying at all!  I would be very interested in how your tax people justify the OTC deductions specifically. To me logically it seems only fair, but I've been doing my taxes for years and reading tax forums, asking accountants and even the IRS themselves about this, and across the board I've gotten a negative answer.  If you google the subject, same thing.     But somewhere in the back of my mind I feel like i read something that said, in effect, that if the OTC products could be proved to be directly tied to a specific disease condtion, there was a tax case that won the ruling. I just can't find anyone who will confirm this.  It would make a big difference because I also have to take high doses of Calcium because of osteoporosis, and I imagine that would be deductible too.   If you can get any specific answers from "your people", I'd be very grateful if you'd let me know.  I'm going to have to file amended tax forms anyway, because my brain hasn't been optimal lately, so I wouldn't care if I had to add a few more Schedule A deductions for the last 3 years<g>.

jo