We both stayed in a hotel for the 6 weeks of Chemo & Radiation before surgery.
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The spouse of a taxpayer away for medical treatment may be able to deduct here lodging costs (up to $50/day) IF the taxpayer would have been unable to travel and stay on his/her own.
Likewise, if the taxpayer were also in an offsite facility with the spouse for the course of treatment (such as at a nearby hotel), then the taxpayer could also deduct $50/day for lodging.
The airfare is deductible, but meals are not.
Here is the complete section from the IRS on Lodging for Medical Expenses.
"You can include in medical expenses the cost of meals and lodging at a hospital or similar institution if a principal reason for being there is to receive medical care. See Nursing Home , later.
You may be able to include in medical expenses the cost of lodging not provided in a hospital or similar institution. You can include the cost of such lodging while away from home if all of the following requirements are met.
The lodging is primarily for and essential to medical care.
The medical care is provided by a doctor in a licensed hospital or in a medical care facility related to, or the equivalent of, a licensed hospital.
The lodging isn't lavish or extravagant under the circumstances.
There is no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel away from home.
The amount you include in medical expenses for lodging can't be more than $50 for each night for each person. You can include lodging for a person traveling with the person receiving the medical care. For example, if a parent is traveling with a sick child, up to $100 per night can be included as a medical expense for lodging. Meals aren't included.
Don't include the cost of lodging while away from home for medical treatment if that treatment isn't received from a doctor in a licensed hospital or in a medical care facility related to, or the equivalent of, a licensed hospital or if that lodging isn't primarily for or essential to the medical care received." See IRS Publication 502 (under Lodging).
Here is the complete section from the IRS on Transportation for Medical Expenses.
"Transportation
You can include in medical expenses amounts paid for transportation primarily for, and essential to, medical care.
Bus, taxi, train, or plane fares or ambulance service,
Transportation expenses of a parent who must go with a child who needs medical care,
Transportation expenses of a nurse or other person who can give injections, medications, or other treatment required by a patient who is traveling to get medical care and is unable to travel alone, and
Transportation expenses for regular visits to see a mentally ill dependent, if these visits are recommended as a part of treatment.
[Edited 4/2/2020 2:14 pm CDT - updated for 2019]
The spouse of a taxpayer away for medical treatment may be able to deduct here lodging costs (up to $50/day) IF the taxpayer would have been unable to travel and stay on his/her own.
Likewise, if the taxpayer were also in an offsite facility with the spouse for the course of treatment (such as at a nearby hotel), then the taxpayer could also deduct $50/day for lodging.
The airfare is deductible, but meals are not.
Here is the complete section from the IRS on Lodging for Medical Expenses.
"You can include in medical expenses the cost of meals and lodging at a hospital or similar institution if a principal reason for being there is to receive medical care. See Nursing Home , later.
You may be able to include in medical expenses the cost of lodging not provided in a hospital or similar institution. You can include the cost of such lodging while away from home if all of the following requirements are met.
The lodging is primarily for and essential to medical care.
The medical care is provided by a doctor in a licensed hospital or in a medical care facility related to, or the equivalent of, a licensed hospital.
The lodging isn't lavish or extravagant under the circumstances.
There is no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel away from home.
The amount you include in medical expenses for lodging can't be more than $50 for each night for each person. You can include lodging for a person traveling with the person receiving the medical care. For example, if a parent is traveling with a sick child, up to $100 per night can be included as a medical expense for lodging. Meals aren't included.
Don't include the cost of lodging while away from home for medical treatment if that treatment isn't received from a doctor in a licensed hospital or in a medical care facility related to, or the equivalent of, a licensed hospital or if that lodging isn't primarily for or essential to the medical care received." See IRS Publication 502 (under Lodging).
Here is the complete section from the IRS on Transportation for Medical Expenses.
"Transportation
You can include in medical expenses amounts paid for transportation primarily for, and essential to, medical care.
Bus, taxi, train, or plane fares or ambulance service,
Transportation expenses of a parent who must go with a child who needs medical care,
Transportation expenses of a nurse or other person who can give injections, medications, or other treatment required by a patient who is traveling to get medical care and is unable to travel alone, and
Transportation expenses for regular visits to see a mentally ill dependent, if these visits are recommended as a part of treatment.
[Edited 4/2/2020 2:14 pm CDT - updated for 2019]
Question: If your spouse has been life flighted to a hospital that is 2 hours away from your home for a heart attack and is in the hospital for 2 weeks and then he is moved to a rehab facility for 2 months can you deduct the mileage to drive and see him every day and deduct $50/day for lodging? this is for tax year 2021. I was told I could not.
You cannot.
Why not please explain. Also my spouse is hearing impaired and has demential doesn't that mean anything that I need to be there for him.
@lc50 - I suspect the reason is you have no medical expense yourself. You are traveling and hoteling to see a loved one. if this was outpatient and your spouse was staying in the hotel that would be different.
read the very first line of this thread:
"The spouse of a taxpayer away for medical treatment may be able to deduct here lodging costs (up to $50/day) IF the taxpayer would have been unable to travel and stay on his/her own."
it may be a moot point in any event.
to deduct medical expenses on your tax return, only the part that exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income is tax deductible. And then on top of that you must be able to itemize (and not take the standard deduction),
Assuming both of you are over 65, the standard deduction is $27,300 in 2022, so if you don't have itemized expenses that exceed this number, it won't matter.
Read the rules for yourself in the IRS pub 502 under travel, lodging & trips (use the glossery in the back) then make your own decision if you have qualifying medical expenses :
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