|
Posted by Steve on January 15, 2007, 2:26 am
Please log in for more thread options
Apologies if I'm posting to the wrong group.
I have the means to fully pay my father's nursing home bills
(at least for a while), and am willing to do so since the
place I'd like him to stay in may not take Medicaid. His
gross income is a bit higher than what's required to have me
declare him as a dependent. If that's so could I still
deduct his nursing home expenses (which would be 100% for
medical reasons) on my return?
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
|
|
Posted by Phil Marti on January 16, 2007, 3:54 am
Please log in for more thread options
> I have the means to fully pay my father's nursing home bills
> (at least for a while), and am willing to do so since the
> place I'd like him to stay in may not take Medicaid. His
> gross income is a bit higher than what's required to have me
> declare him as a dependent. If that's so could I still
> deduct his nursing home expenses (which would be 100% for
> medical reasons) on my return?
Yes, assuming that you provided more than half his support
for the year. See IRS Publication 502.
--
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
|
|
Posted by Bill on January 16, 2007, 3:54 am
Please log in for more thread options smarker5@hotmail.com (Steve) posted:
> I have the means to fully pay my father's
> nursing home bills (at least for a while), and
> am willing to do so since the place I'd like him
> to stay in may not take Medicaid. His gross
> income is a bit higher than what's required to
> have me declare him as a dependent. If that's
> so could I still deduct his nursing home
> expenses (which would be 100% for medical
> reasons) on my return?
Parents and other close relatives hold an exceptional
position, when it comes to the relationship test for
dependency. They can be claimed so long as you paid more
than half the cost of "maintaining their home" for the tax
year -- even if they live elsewhere.
So long as you meet that test, you can not only deduct the
medical costs (in this case, for a nursing home), but also
claim your father as a dependent.
I am assuming he is not still filing his own return jointly
with his spouse, and the "bit higher" than $3300 -- the 2006
level of "independence" -- is not $10,000 or so (which would
make it difficult, though not impossible, to qualify as
"providing more than half the cost").
Bill
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
|
|
Posted by Phil Marti on January 16, 2007, 7:40 pm
Please log in for more thread options
> Parents and other close relatives hold an exceptional
> position, when it comes to the relationship test for
> dependency. They can be claimed so long as you paid more
> than half the cost of "maintaining their home" for the tax
> year -- even if they live elsewhere.
>
> So long as you meet that test, you can not only deduct the
> medical costs (in this case, for a nursing home), but also
> claim your father as a dependent.
This is wrong. What's unique about parents, and only
parents, is that they can be qualifying relatives for Head
of Household filing status without living with you. They
must qualify as dependents, including the gross income test,
for this to be true.
What's unique about medical expenses, which was OP's
question, is that you can deduct them if paid for someone
who would qualify as a dependent except for the gross income
and joint return tests.
Publications 501 and 502.
--
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
|
|
Posted by Benjamin Yazersky CPA on January 16, 2007, 3:54 am
Please log in for more thread options
> Apologies if I'm posting to the wrong group.
>
> I have the means to fully pay my father's nursing home bills
> (at least for a while), and am willing to do so since the
> place I'd like him to stay in may not take Medicaid. His
> gross income is a bit higher than what's required to have me
> declare him as a dependent. If that's so could I still
> deduct his nursing home expenses (which would be 100% for
> medical reasons) on my return?
paying your father's nursing home bill should be considered
in determining his support
___________________________________
<<< Benjamin Yazersky, CPA [NJ & NY] >>>
-----> real address on hobokeni or hobokenx <-----
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
|
| Similar Threads | Posted | | skilled nursing home deduction | February 3, 2008, 7:26 pm |
| How to file federal taxes for my mother in nursing home | March 3, 2008, 12:05 pm |
| Does my dad in nursing home need to file taxes? If so does it make sense that he owes? | April 6, 2008, 12:26 pm |
| New Home Owner W4 Questions | January 3, 2008, 4:45 pm |
| 401k, ira, first home purchase - rollover questions | April 28, 2007, 4:25 pm |
| Questions re treatment of long term capital gains on home sale | July 19, 2008, 1:47 pm |
| Home improvements to reduce profit from home sale? | October 24, 2006, 7:27 am |
| Mortgage Application Fee/Home Inspection Fee (for "Failed" Home) | February 2, 2007, 8:15 pm |
| Home office deduction for use in a passive activity such as a second home | February 25, 2007, 5:00 am |
| Re: dependent care FSA | April 12, 2006, 7:17 am |
|
|
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap