What medical expenses can I deduct in 2020?

Asked by: Jayden Marquardt  |  Last update: September 14, 2022
Score: 5/5 (52 votes)

The IRS allows you to deduct unreimbursed payments for preventative care, treatment, surgeries, dental and vision care, visits to psychologists and psychiatrists, prescription medications, appliances such as glasses, contacts, false teeth and hearing aids, and expenses that you pay to travel for qualified medical care.

What type of medical expenses are tax deductible?

What kind of medical expenses are tax deductible?
  • Payments to doctors, dentists, surgeons, chiropractors, psychiatrists, psychologists and other medical practitioners.
  • Hospital and nursing home care.
  • Acupuncture.
  • Addiction programs, including for quitting smoking.

What qualifies as a qualified medical expense?

Qualified Medical Expenses are generally the same types of services and products that otherwise could be deducted as medical expenses on your yearly income tax return. Some Qualified Medical Expenses, like doctors' visits, lab tests, and hospital stays, are also Medicare-covered services.

Are health insurance premiums tax deductible in 2020?

Any health insurance premiums you pay out of pocket for policies covering medical care are tax-deductible. (Medical care policies cover treatment including hospitalization, surgery and X-rays; prescription drugs and insulin; dental care; lost or damaged contact lenses; and long-term care, with some limitations.)

Are glasses tax deductible?

Here's one of them: prescription eyeglasses. You may be surprised to learn that the money you spend on reading or prescription eyeglasses are tax deductible. That's because glasses count as a “medical expense,” which can be claimed as an itemized deductible on form 104, Schedule A.

Can You Deduct Medical Expenses From Taxes?

17 related questions found

Are vitamins tax deductible?

Tax-deductible medical expenses are only items that are used primarily to alleviate or prevent a specific health condition. Items that are only beneficial to general health, such as vitamins or a vacation, are not tax-deductible.

Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes?

The medical expense deduction lowers the taxable income of people who spent more than 7.5% of their adjusted gross income (AGI) on prescriptions, disease treatment, doctor's fees, and other medical costs during the tax year.

Are insurance premiums tax deductible?

Health insurance premiums are deductible on federal taxes, in some cases, as these monthly payments are classified as medical expenses. Generally, if you pay for medical insurance on your own, you can deduct the amount from your taxes.

What does the IRS consider medical expenses?

Medical care expenses include payments for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or payments for treatments affecting any structure or function of the body.

How much of your cell phone bill can you deduct?

If you're self-employed and you use your cellphone for business, you can claim the business use of your phone as a tax deduction. If 30 percent of your time on the phone is spent on business, you could legitimately deduct 30 percent of your phone bill.

Are dental premiums tax deductible?

Dental insurance premiums may be tax deductible. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says that to be deductible as a qualifying medical expense, the dental insurance must be for procedures to prevent or alleviate dental disease, including dental hygiene and preventive exams and treatments.

What deductions can I claim without receipts?

Membership or Union Fees: Itemized deductions like these are in your pay-as-you-go summary. As long as you have the document, you usually don't need a receipt.
...
Common Items You Can Claim without a Receipt
  • Maintenance.
  • Loan interest.
  • Registration.
  • Insurance.
  • Fuel.

Are dental expenses deductible 2020?

Claiming dental expenses is an allowable deduction on your tax return. You can claim dental expenses on your taxes if you incurred fees for the prevention and alleviation of dental disease. This includes: Services of a dental hygienist or dentist for teeth cleaning.

Are prescription drugs tax deductible?

Most people can deduct prescription drugs and other medical expenses for themselves, their spouse, and any dependents. See if your expenses qualify by taking this IRS survey. Most people cannot deduct over-the-counter drugs, nutritional supplements, or vitamins unless they're prescribed by a doctor.

Can I deduct medical expenses if I don't itemize?

But there are some medical expenses that are deductible even if you don't qualify for deducting medical expenses as an itemized deduction. Deducting these expenses lowers your taxable income, cutting your taxes. Your filing status and number of dependents don't affect these deductions.

Are out of pocket medical expenses deductible?

If the medical bills you pay out of pocket in a year exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI), you may deduct only the amount of your medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your AGI from your taxes. You also must itemize your deductions to deduct your medical expenses.

Are blood pressure monitors tax deductible?

"If the doctor told you (that) you needed to take your blood pressure every day, (a blood pressure monitor) would be a medical expense," says Evan Morgan, certified public accountant and tax principal with accounting firm Kaufman Rossin in Ft.

Are diabetic test strips tax deductible?

There are a wide range of expenses that you can include in your medical deduction including the purchase price of blood sugar monitoring kits, test strips, insulin and other medications prescribed by your doctor to treat your diabetes.

Is a tummy tuck tax deductible?

IRS rules on cosmetic surgery are clear. Any medical expenses that you incur for "unnecessary cosmetic surgery" are not deductible. The IRS allows you to write off medical expenses that are related to procedures that cure a condition or disease, treat or restore your body, or improve your general health.

Are Medicare premiums tax deductible in 2021?

Yes, your monthly Medicare Part B premiums are tax-deductible. Insurance premiums are among the many items that qualify for the medical expense deduction. Since it's not mandatory to enroll in Part B, you can be “rewarded” with a tax break for choosing to pay this medical expense.

What percentage of my Internet bill can I deduct?

Taxpayers should estimate the percentage of their home Internet service is used for business purposes and prorate that cost to determine the amount of their deduction. According to Investopedia, a typical amount to deduct is 25 percent of home Internet access services.

What happens if I get audited and don't have receipts?

If you get audited and don't have receipts or additional proofs? Well, the Internal Revenue Service may disallow your deductions for the expenses. This often leads to gross income deductions from the IRS before calculating your tax bracket.

What deductions can I claim in addition to standard deduction?

Tax Breaks You Can Claim Without Itemizing
  • Educator Expenses. ...
  • Student Loan Interest. ...
  • HSA Contributions. ...
  • IRA Contributions. ...
  • Self-Employed Retirement Contributions. ...
  • Early Withdrawal Penalties. ...
  • Alimony Payments. ...
  • Certain Business Expenses.

Are vision insurance premiums tax deductible in 2021?

You can deduct vision insurance premiums, eye exams and eye surgeries from your taxes if you paid for those expenses out of pocket. But, any costs covered by a vision insurance plan are not tax deductible.

Can I write off my car insurance as a business expense?

If you drive a car for both personal and business reasons, you may deduct your insurance costs from your taxes for the percentage of the time you use your car for business. If half the time you use your car for business, then you may deduct 50% of the yearly auto insurance costs on your taxes.