Do I get a credit or deduction if my child is disabled?
If your child is older than 12 and you need to pay someone to take care of him while you work, you can say he is disabled and you can still get the childcare credit on your federal return. Or if he is 19 or older you may still be able to claim him as a qualifying child dependent on your federal return.
Aside from those things, there is no federal tax advantage to saying that your child is disabled. Your state tax laws might be different.
If you have paid out of pocket for any special schooling etc to help your child with dyslexia, you may be able to claim it as a medical expense. But understand that the medical expense deduction is very hard to get.
MEDICAL EXPENSES
The medical expense deduction has to meet a rather large threshold before it can affect your return. The amount of medical (including dental, vision, etc.) expenses that will count toward itemization is the amount that is OVER 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You should only enter the amount that you paid in 2024—do not include any amounts that were covered by insurance or that are still outstanding. Of course, your medical expenses plus your other itemized deductions still have to exceed your standard deduction before you will see a difference in your tax due or refund.
To enter your medical expenses go to Federal>Deductions and Credits>Medical>Medical Expenses
2024 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS
SINGLE $14,600 (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)
MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $14,600 (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)
MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $29,200 (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)
HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $21,900 (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
