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New Member
posted Apr 9, 2024 10:20:27 AM

How do i add the expenses from my service animal

i am not sure where to input all of my expenses and cost for his year round care

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2 Replies
Expert Alumni
Apr 9, 2024 10:23:08 AM

His expenses would be deductible as Itemized Medical Expenses, but ONLY if you itemize.

 

Itemized expenses include mortgage interest, state and local taxes up to $10,000, medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of your AGI and casualty and losses in excess of 10% of you AGI with the first $100 not counting towards the loss.  Your health insurance and all medical expenses are only deductible for the amount that is over 7.5% of your AGI.  This means if your AGI is $50,000, then the amount that is over $3,750 is deductible.  

 

Then your total itemized expenses would need to be greater than your standard deduction below in order to benefit from your service dog expenses. 

 

The 2023 Standard Deductions are as follows:

  • Married Filing Joint (MFJ)              $27,700
  • Married Filing Separate (MFS)      $13,850
  • Head of Household (HOH)             $20,800 
  • Single                                                     $13,850                                

Blind and MFJ or MFS add $1,500

Single or HOH if blind add $1,850

 

Standard versus Itemized Deduction

 

Medical expenses are entered in the deduction and credit section of TurboTax under Medical. 

Level 15
Apr 9, 2024 10:24:02 AM

If the animal is truly a service animal (not just an "emotional support" animal) you can enter the expense as medical expense.

 

 

MEDICAL EXPENSES

The medical expense deduction has to meet a rather large threshold before it can affect your return. The amount of medical (including dental, vision, etc.)  expenses that will count toward itemization is the amount that is OVER 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You should only enter the amount that you paid in 2023—do not include any amounts that were covered by insurance or that are still outstanding.  Of course, your medical expenses plus your other itemized deductions still have to exceed your standard deduction before you will see a difference in your tax due or refund.

 

To enter your medical expenses go to Federal>Deductions and Credits>Medical>Medical Expenses

 

 

2023 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

 

SINGLE $13,850  (65 or older/legally blind + $1850)

 

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $13,850  (65 or older/legally blind + $1500)

 

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $27,700  (65+/legally blind) )  + $1500 per spouse

 

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD  $20,800 (65 or older/blind)  + $1850)

 

 

 

Go to this IRS Publication 502 for medical expenses - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf

 

Guide Dog or Other Service Animal
You can include in medical expenses the costs of buying, training, and maintaining a guide dog or other service animal to assist a visually impaired or hearing disabled person, or a person with other physical disabilities. In general, this includes any costs, such as food, grooming, and veterinary care, incurred in maintaining the health and vitality of the service animal so that it may perform its duties.