Can I deduct medical mileage for a parent?

Asked by: Hallie Ruecker MD  |  Last update: October 16, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (73 votes)

You can also include trips to the pharmacy, but only to purchase prescribed medicine. And lastly, you can claim medical mileage deduction for trips concluded as a parent or a caregiver. You can't claim mileage tax deductions on trips that can't be considered necessary or aren't linked to any medical condition.

What qualifies for medical mileage deduction?

The IRS allows you to deduct mileage for medical care if the transportation costs are mainly for — and essential to — the medical care. Actual expenses you've allocated to the use of the vehicle for medical transportation: Parking fees. Tolls.

Can you write off medical expenses for a parent?

Answer: Yes, if you itemize your deductions and your parent was your dependent either at the time the medical services were provided or at the time you paid the expenses, you may claim a deduction for the portion of their expenses that you paid during the taxable year, not compensated for by insurance or otherwise.

Can I deduct mileage as a caregiver?

Can a caregiver deduct mileage? Yes, like taxes for a small business, caregivers can deduct mileage, but only for the costs incurred within the scope of the job itself.

What medical travel expenses are tax deductible?

You can deduct the cost of bus, taxi, train, plane tickets, and ambulance transportation. If you use your vehicle, you can use the IRS-set mileage rate and include your out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of gas and oil. In 2022, the mileage rate is 18 cents through 1/1-6/30 and 22 cents through 7/1-12/31.

Can I deduct expenses for my spouse who is in a nursing home

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What proof do I need to deduct medical expenses?

You should also keep a statement or itemized invoice showing:
  • What medical care was received.
  • Who received the care.
  • The nature and purpose of any medical expenses.
  • The amount of the other medical expenses.

What travel can be claimed as a deduction?

Deductible travel expenses include:

Travel by airplane, train, bus or car between your home and your business destination. Fares for taxis or other types of transportation between an airport or train station and a hotel, or from a hotel to a work location.

What is the tax write-off for caring for elderly parents?

If you hire professional home care services for a child or aging parent who needs home care so you can work, the child and dependent care credit allows you to claim 20% of expenses up to $3,000. The specifics can vary by tax year, but in this example, 20% of $3,000 is $600.

Who qualifies for mileage deduction?

Unfortunately, not everyone can claim the mileage tax deduction. This tax write-off applies to: Self-employed or small business owners, including independent contractors, such as drivers for rideshare services.

What is the $5000 caregiver tax credit?

The Credit for Caring Act would help working family caregivers offset the cost of some caregiving expenses such as a home care aide, adult day services, home modifications, assistive technology, respite care, transportation, or other supports that help them and their loved ones.

Can I claim a parent as a dependent if they receive social security?

Social Security benefits are considered taxable income, but they don't automatically disqualify you from claiming your parent as a dependent. As long as your parent meets the IRS's income and other eligibility requirements, you can still claim them as a dependent even if they receive Social Security benefits.

Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes?

The medical expense deduction covers a wide variety of expenses. However, because of the high Standard Deduction and the 7.5% of AGI threshold requirement, it can be difficult to benefit unless you have a lot of out-of-pocket costs.

What is the IRS caregiver tax credit?

For each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and before January 1, 2026, this bill, under the PITL, would allow a credit equal to 50 percent of the amount paid or incurred by a family caregiver during the taxable year for eligible expenses.

Is it better to write off gas or mileage?

Writing off mileage by the standard IRS mileage method requires less documentation and hence is simpler. However, if you own a vehicle that has a high road tax, or uses a lot of fuel, writing off the gas and other expenses can give you a higher tax deduction and actually cover your business mileage costs.

What is the IRS rule for deducting medical expenses?

Medical Expense Deduction

On Form 1040, medical and dental expenses are deducted on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions. You can deduct only the amount of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income shown on Form 1040, line 38.

What is the IRS rule for mileage reimbursement?

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be: 70 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from 2024. 21 cents per mile driven for medical purposes, the same as in 2024.

Can you deduct mileage for medical trips?

Mileage-based tax deductions can be claimed for various types of doctor visits, medical procedures, therapy, and even trips to pharmacies. The medical mileage rate set for 2024 is 21 cents per mile. You may be eligible for a considerable tax deduction if you frequently travel for medical reasons.

How do I prove mileage deduction?

You can keep a mileage logbook or use an app for this purpose. Be sure to record your odometer reading at the beginning and end of the period for which you are recording mileage, and note down the date, destination, distance, and purpose for each trip you've driven throughout the year.

How much mileage can be claimed?

For every mile over 10,000 you can claim 25 pence. What are the HMRC mileage rates? The HMRC mileage rates are 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p per mile after that for business-related driving. If you ride a motorcycle, the rate is 24p per mile, and for cycles - 20p per mile.

Can I deduct my parents' medical expenses?

If you paid more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income for your parent's medical care, you may be able to claim their medical expenses as an itemized deduction on Schedule A, even if they don't meet the income requirement to be claimed as your dependent.

How much do family members get paid for caregiving?

Here are the average hourly wages for family caregivers in the top eight states with the most family caregivers, as of September 2024: A family caregiver in California earns $15.54 per hour. A family caregiver in Texas earns $14.82 per hour. A family caregiver in New York earns $16.44 per hour.

Can elderly parents be claimed as dependents for health insurance?

Beginning in 2023, a new state law allows adult children to add their dependent parent or stepparent to their health plan policy, as long as the dependent parent or stepparent is not eligible for or enrolled in Medicare and they live in the health plan's service area.

What medical expenses are not tax deductible?

Non-tax-deductible medical expenses include the following: Cosmetic procedures. Nonprescription drugs. General health purchases such as toothpaste and vitamins.

Who can claim a deduction for transportation expenses?

If your home is your main place of business, you can deduct transportation expenses you incur. The expenses must be for going from your home to another work location in the same trade or business. Was this topic helpful?

How much can you claim for travel expenses?

Cents per kilometre.

You can claim a flat rate of 85c per kilometre for every business kilometre you cover for the 2024 year (increasing to 88 cents per business kilometre in the 2025 year). You'll need to keep a diary of all work-related journeys so you can work out how many kilometres you've travelled for work.