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Subject Author Date
medical expense documentation question Jane 10-08-2007
Posted by L K Williams on October 9, 2007, 8:28 pm
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> For the first time ever we have enough medical expenses to
> be able to deduct some (lucky us).
>
> We purchased a medically necessary stair lift for $17k. I
> have the note from my doctor, the receipt and a letter from
> a realtor saying it would not increase the value of my home.
> Of course there are also LOTS of doctor bills, but it's the
> stair lift that puts us into the deductible category.
>
> Is there any point in attaching copies of these papers to my
> tax forms? Due to my physical condition I would like to
> avoid an audit at all cost.

Attaching documents to a tax return is a waste. When the
return is received and processed, any attachments are simply
filed away with the original return. No one involved in
selecting returns for audit has pjysical access to these
documents so they do not influence the classifier. Possibly
some one will look at the file before you are notified of
the audit and survey the return out -- but I wouldn't want
to depend on it.

Lanny K. Williams, CPA
Nawarat, Williams & Co., Ltd.
Income Tax Services for Expatriate Americans

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Posted by Jane on October 11, 2007, 12:41 am
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> For the first time ever we have enough medical expenses to
> be able to deduct some (lucky us).
>
> We purchased a medically necessary stair lift for $17k. I
> have the note from my doctor, the receipt and a letter from
> a realtor saying it would not increase the value of my home.
> Of course there are also LOTS of doctor bills, but it's the
> stair lift that puts us into the deductible category.
>
> Is there any point in attaching copies of these papers to my
> tax forms? Due to my physical condition I would like to
> avoid an audit at all cost.

Thanks everyone. Actually I spoke to a friend who works for
the IRS and she said I should attach the papers - copies
only, of course. Doesn't mean I'll avoid an audit, but it
won't hurt.

I'm not concerned about an audit denying any costs. They
are all absolutely valid. My concern is that I am physical
unable to go to an IRS audit.

Anyway - guess I'll worry about that if/when it happens.

<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< 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 (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

Posted by Harlan Lunsford on October 11, 2007, 10:19 pm
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Jane wrote:

>> For the first time ever we have enough medical expenses to
>> be able to deduct some (lucky us).
>>
>> We purchased a medically necessary stair lift for $17k. I
>> have the note from my doctor, the receipt and a letter from
>> a realtor saying it would not increase the value of my home.
>> Of course there are also LOTS of doctor bills, but it's the
>> stair lift that puts us into the deductible category.
>>
>> Is there any point in attaching copies of these papers to my
>> tax forms? Due to my physical condition I would like to
>> avoid an audit at all cost.

> Thanks everyone. Actually I spoke to a friend who works for
> the IRS and she said I should attach the papers - copies
> only, of course. Doesn't mean I'll avoid an audit, but it
> won't hurt.
>
> I'm not concerned about an audit denying any costs. They
> are all absolutely valid. My concern is that I am physical
> unable to go to an IRS audit.
>
> Anyway - guess I'll worry about that if/when it happens.

Then worry no more. If that medical item is the only thing
they might be concerned with, you will be contacted via good
old snail mail asking to mail in copies for proof. I doubt
you would be asked to physcially bring it in.

Unless... of course.... you are one of the 13,000 or so IRS
will be auditing shortly.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< 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 (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

Posted by Seth on October 12, 2007, 11:25 pm
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> I'm not concerned about an audit denying any costs. They
> are all absolutely valid. My concern is that I am physical
> unable to go to an IRS audit.
>
> Anyway - guess I'll worry about that if/when it happens.

They'll come to you if they need to. That's usually a bad
idea, because the IRS agents are good at observing your
lifestyle, and will see if you seem to be spending more
money than you're paying taxes on. If you aren't, there's
no problem.

And more likely, long before an actual audit, they'll just
ask for documentation by mail.

Seth

<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< 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 (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

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