Can I deduct mileage for transporting a medicaid patient not related to me as we have no transportation available

[chefbarb]

I have a neighbor whom I transported to various doctors appointments several miles from home which included significant parking fees. She is a medicaid patient and has no other means of transportation.

[Opus 17]

Sorry, no.  You can't take a medical expense deduction for someone who is not a dependent, and you can't take a charity expense deduction for providing service to a specific individual, even if that person is needy.

On the other hand, if you volunteered with a registered charity to drive needy people to appointments, those miles could be deducted at the charitable mileage rate of 17 cents per mile.  But the charity would have to schedule your rides.  If you choose to provide the service to a specific person, that's not deductible.

[bwa]

I believe Opus meant $0.14/mile for charitable mileage.  Because it's in the statute, the IRS can't change it or update it like other rates.

[Opus 17]

I guess I got medical and charity rates mixed up.  Thanks.