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Can I deduct the money that I pay for my mother's health insurance premium if she is not my dependent?

 
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Can I deduct the money that I pay for my mother's health insurance premium if she is not my dependent?

Maybe. This is a great question!

If you could have claimed her as a dependent except that her income exceeded $4050 (exemption amount) then read on.  The Rule:

Medical expenses for someone else

You can deduct medical costs you pay directly to medical service providers for another person according to the following rules:

  • If you pay medical expenses for someone you do not claim as a dependent on your income tax return, you can deduct those expenses if:
    • He or she either lived with you for the entire year as a member of your household.
    • He or she is related to you (as described in the section  Who's a Relative).
    • He or she was a U.S. citizen or legal resident, or was a resident of Canada or Mexico, for some part of the year.
    • You provided over half of his or her support for the year.

For example, it's possible that you can deduct medical expenses you paid for a parent who lived with you in 2017,  and you paid more than 50% of their support, even though you can't claim the parent as a dependent because his or her gross income exceeded $4,050.

So if she lived with you and you paid over half of her support, you can deduct her Medical Expenses  including Health Insurance.

Just include them on your schedule A with your Medical Expenses.

Can I deduct the money that I pay for my mother's health insurance premium if she is not my dependent?

A parent is one of the types of person who can be a qualifying relative dependent without having to live all year with the taxpayer.

Can I deduct the money that I pay for my mother's health insurance premium if she is not my dependent?

Possibly.

You can deduct medical expenses for dependent, or for someone who could be a dependent if the only reason they are disqualified is that their taxable income is more than $4050.

For a parent, you can claim them as a dependent if you pay more than half their living expenses, their taxable income is less than $4050, and they don't file a joint return with a spouse.  They must be a US resident but don't have to live with you.  (Social security is not always taxable but it does count as support they provide for themselves.)

So if you provide more than half her support and she does not file a joint return with a spouse, but she has more than $4050 of taxable income, she is not your dependent but you can still deduct medical expenses you pay for her.  If there are other factors that disqualify her from being your dependent, then you can't deduct her medical expenses. 

InigoG
New Member

Can I deduct the money that I pay for my mother's health insurance premium if she is not my dependent?

Do they have to be a US resident?  it also states resident of Canada or Mexico...

Can I deduct the money that I pay for my mother's health insurance premium if she is not my dependent?

He or she was a U.S. citizen or legal resident, or was a resident of Canada or Mexico, for some part of the year.

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