Federal Itemized Deductions

[lap]

Why is Turbo Tax telling me it is best to use your federal itemized deductions when on the previous screen it said "If you didn't spend $11,298 or more on medical expense it won't effect your federal return???  I have over a $1000.00 in medical. Isn't that included in the itemized deductions?

[KrisD · Accepted solution]

No

There seems to be 2 separate issues.

1) Medical deductions are only counted if they are "more than 10% of you Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)". (7.5% if you were born before 1-2-1952)

If you are under 65 and your Adjusted Gross Income (1040 line 38) is $112,980 or more, you would need to have more than $11,298 in medical expenses paid in 2016 order for them to be relevant, or counted.

2) Your Itemized Deductions added up to $13,362 which is more than the Standard Deduction of 2016 which is 12,600.

If you had 1,000 in medical expenses paid in 2016, that amount would not be included in your Itemized Deduction total.