If medical bills are paid with a joint checking account, who claims the expenses for a deduction?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
January 23, 2022
5 replies
37 views

I am listed on the account as a co-owner with my mother. The medical bills were for her nursing home and hospital expenses. She had no income. Can I claim her as a dependent and deduct her medical expenses since I am a co-owner on the account that was used to pay them?

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xmasbaby0

Level 15

This is tricky. Where did the money in that joint account come from? Was it Mom's money to begin with---and were you added to the account? Explain how you and your mother came to share a joint account.

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ugaalumni2001Author

Level 2

It was initially her checking account, but she put me on it when she was first diagnosed with dementia five years ago so I could take care of her bills for her. She passed away in November, so the account then became fully mine, but there were medical expenses paid out of it prior to that.

xmasbaby0

Level 15

Sorry for your loss. So it sounds like you used Mom's money to pay her expenses. You do not say that any money from you went into that account. You are asking if you can claim her as a dependent when her expenses were paid with her own money. Or you want the tax deduction for paying the expenses? Or do you mean you are filing a tax return for your mother's estate? Or that you are filing Mom's final tax return? What are you trying to do?

I think you should be seeking paid professional tax help for this one.

@ Opus 17 @DoninGA