My RDP and I file MFJ in CA. I am unemployed and my RDP is employed with employer sponsored health care. Health insurance premiums are withheld from my RDP’s paycheck for my healthcare and are listed separately on his W-2 in box 14 “Other” as “HLTHDOMPTR”. Are these health insurance premiums deductible on my RDP’s Federal return and/or our MFJ CA return?
There is a section in TT in the CA state filing for “Registered Domestic Partner Adjustments” that says to “Enter below the deductible amount of medical expenses and health insurance coverage paid on behalf of your domestic partner and your domestic partner’s dependents, or the amount received to compensate for the additional federal income taxes incurred. These amounts are included in your federal income and are typically located on your W-2 or a 1099.” QUESTION: Is this where we enter the amount in box 14 “Other”, listed as HLTHDOMPTER?
Medical insurance premiums are deducted from your pre-tax pay on the W2.. This means that you are paying for your medical insurance before any of the federal, state, and other taxes are deducted.
Since these are paid with pre-tax dollars, you may not claim these as a medical premium expense.
i am not sure what a HLTHDOMPTER is. You might ask your employer. In most cases, the information that your employer lists in Box 14 of your W-2 does not affect your income tax return. In fact, for many Box 14 entries, the IRS does not even provide a place for it to get reported on your return forms. They are reported to you in Box 14 simply for informational purposes.
Ok, so the tax benefit is the savings by paying the health insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars but not further deduction.
HLTHDOMPTER = Health Domestic Partner. Based on what you've said, the amount in box 14 is simply informational.
Thanks!!