Can I deduct health premiums paid pretax on my KY return? When on that screen, TurboTax isn't making it clear that it MUST be an aftertax payment to be deductible?

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

You never take a tax deduction for anything that was already paid with pre-tax or non-taxed dollars.  That's a universal principle.  You can't subtract money from your taxable income if it is never in your taxable income in the first place.

[TMZDDZ]

Thank you for making it clear for me as far as taking a deduction on the federal form. But as a followup, does this principle also apply to the KY state return? That is what I am not clear on. Since Turbo Tax is asking me if I want to take the deduction, though I did NOT take it on the Federal due to the pre-tax reason, I didn't know if KY might ALLOW pre-tax premiums to be deducted, even though the Federal does not. Turbo Tax needs to add more explanation on that screen. I wish they wouldn't ask if I want to take the deduction on the KY form because it confuses me. If I didn't take it on the Federal, I shouldn't take it on the state, and they shouldn't ask if I want to do it, or they need an explanation as to which circumstance it would be allowed to take it. Thank you!