turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

user3925
Returning Member

What is the tax benefit rule?

 
x
Do you have an Intuit account?

Do you have an Intuit account?

You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.

4 Replies
DavidD66
Expert Alumni

What is the tax benefit rule?

If it is a federal tax refund it is not taxable.  If it is a state tax refund, it could be taxable.  If you itemized deductions (which it sounds like you did) a state tax refund could be taxable.  According to the IRS:

 

As a general rule, taxpayers who choose the standard deduction on their federal income tax returns do not owe federal income tax on state tax refunds.

 

Taxpayers who itemize their deductions on their federal income tax returns and receive a state tax refund must include the refund in income only if they deducted the state tax paid. Because of the $10,000 limit on itemized deductions for state income and property taxes, some itemizers are not able to deduct all of the state taxes they paid and do not need to include a refund in income. 

 

 If you are referring to a refund or "recovery" of an amount you deducted or took a credit for in an earlier year, the Tax Benefit Rule would apply. 

 

Tax benefit rule.

 

You must include a recovery in your income in the year you receive it up to the amount by which the deduction or credit you took for the recovered amount reduced your tax in the earlier year. For this purpose, any increase to an amount carried over to the current year that resulted from the deduction or credit is considered to have reduced your tax in the earlier year.

 

For more information see Tax Benefit Rule in IRS Publication 525

 

[Edited March 18, 2025, 2:35 PDT]

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

What is the tax benefit rule?

Possibly.

 

(Note that Turbotax can only calculate this for state income tax refunds.  Any other kind of refund you have to figure out yourself.)

 

To see if provider refunds are taxable, you must consider the tax benefit rule.  That is, did you previously get a tax benefit from the expense that is now being refunded?  Let me give some examples. 

 

1. You paid for the medical expense out of pocket, and did not take the medical expense itemized deduction.  You got no benefit from the expense, so if the provider gives you a refund, you have no taxable benefit.

 

2. You paid for a medical expense out of pocket. Your total expenses were $8,000 and your income was $60,000, so the amount of deductible expenses was $3500 ($8000 minus 7.5% of your income which is $4500).  Then you get a $1000 refund from the provider.  Because you got the full benefit of that $1000 tax deduction, it is taxable now.

 

3. You paid for a medical expense out of pocket. Your total expenses were $8,000 and your income was $60,000, so the amount of deductible expenses was $3500 ($8000 minus 7.5% of your income which is $4500).  Then you get a $4000 refund from the provider.  In this case, you only got a $3500 benefit from the deduction, so only $3500 is taxable.  (Because, only $3500 of the expense was over the threshold in the first place.)

 

4. You paid for a medical expense using tax-free money from an HSA.  The provider gives you a refund.  If you can use the money for current medical expenses, then you have no benefit from the refund, since tax-free money is still going to pay eligible medical expenses.  But if you don't have medical expenses and you just keep the money, it is taxable to you because you got a tax savings from the expense--it's basically the same as a refunded deduction. 

What is the tax benefit rule?

And the tax benefit rule is applied the same way for other kinds of refunds.  For example, if your mortgage lender refunds some interest due to a miscalculation, it could be taxable if you took the itemized mortgage interest deduction in the past (the refund is a reimbursement of a prior deduction), but would not be deductible if you took the standard deduction.   

rjs
Level 15
Level 15

What is the tax benefit rule?

THE OP CHANGED THE QUESTION AFTER REPLIES WERE POSTED.

 

Unlock tailored help options in your account.

message box icon

Get more help

Ask questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.

Post your Question