I entered all my (very few) Medical Expenses but it shows as Needs Review in the expense summary how do I complete it?

[DawnC]

If you have entered all of your medical expenses, you can continue with your tax return.    It will show Needs Review if you have categories with no entries (which is normal).   You can either click through the Medical Expenses section again or scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Continue, the next section (in the Deductions and Credits section, shown below) or Done with medical.   When you go to the File section (after you have entered all of your tax data), TurboTax will complete a review to ensure you have not entered anything that requires more information.   If there is a specific entry that requires more detail, TurboTax will direct you to that expense entry during the review.   

Medical expenses are an itemized deduction, so if you are claiming the standard deduction (most taxpayers do), those entries will not affect your tax return.   The total of your itemized deductions must total more than your standard deduction to receive any tax benefit from them.   However, the rules are different for state returns, so TurboTax suggests you enter your medical expenses (even if taking the standard deduction) in case you can benefit on your state return.

Can I deduct medical expenses?

[msellen]

I am having the same problem.  I followed these instructions.  they did not work.

[JanG7]

Unfortunately, no one has posted an answer to this question that works as of this writing.  I suspect that's because it's a problem in the program and not in a user's data entries.  It makes no difference whether the blanks are filled in or not, nor what sums are filled in the blanks.  The end result is still "NEEDS REVIEW."

[DawnC]

Once you clicked through all 11 medical expense categories, you should get a message that says either ''You are getting a medical deduction tax break'' OR ''The standard deduction is right for you''.    Once you click on DONE at the bottom of that screen, the ''Needs Review'' message should go away and the summary should show the total of what you entered in that section.   @msellen 

[JanG77]

Yes, that's what SHOULD happen--but it doesn't!  I've gone through all of those categories and clicked on DONE more than a dozen times.  The next page continues to show MEDICAL EXPENSES NEEDS REVIEW.  I have yet to see a summary of my medical expenses.  I have used Turbo Tax for years, and this is the first problem I have ever encountered.  This is exasperating.  I need to know if it's going to be fixed or not, please.

[JanG77]

I have also spoken with five Turbo Tax experts about this very specific problem, and not one of them has been able to solve it.  I have shared my screen with them and done every suggestion.  None of them has been able to figure out why medical expenses continues to show NEEDS REVIEW.  What is the next step?

[peterkathie]

I'm having the same problem. In addition, my medical expenses are $10,631 (which I entered under Medical Expenses) however, when I look at the Standard vs Itemized comparison, it show's that my medical expenses are only $7,123.

[JanG77]

Did it suggest the standard deduction for you, or that you itemize?  If itemizing, then you may deduct only a percentage of your medical expenses.  Might that be the difference?

It is concerning that dozens of users have complained about MEDICAL EXPENSES NEEDS REVIEW for a month now and there is no solution yet.

[Critter-3]

This can be caused by a couple of different things.... you have a category of expense with no $ amount listed to it or a zero  ... if so delete the amount and the category ... the program doesn't allow a category without the $ amount and it will not accept zero (if you were trying to preserve the category for a future use you have to get rid of it and add it back in the future). 

Or you are using the downloaded program and you have a "supporting details" breakdown lurking behind the zero from the prior year ... so click on the zero amount to open the supporting details pop up and delete the unwanted lines. 

[JanG77]

IT WORKS!  It finally works.  It did not work last night, but no more "medical expenses needs review" as of today.  Thankfully, it appears someone found the background fix.

[txkimball]

Has anyone had success in clearing the "needs review" message as of this week.  If so - any tips would be appreciated.

[JanG77]

When you are near to completing your taxes but before filing them, Turbo Tax asks for feedback--something like, "how are you feeling?" with a happy face, neutral face, not-so-happy face.  I clicked on the not-happy face, Turbo Tax asks why? and I filled in the box stating that I was very unhappy with the result--that the sum of my medical expenses does not show up, even though I had completed my taxes, and it still indicated "Medical Expenses Needs Review."  I did not want to file my taxes with a "medical expenses needs review," so I signed out.  When I signed in a day or two later, the issue had been resolved.  I figure that someone with Turbo Tax finally paid attention and fixed the issue?  Try giving Turbo Tax direct feedback, and maybe it will work for you.  I have never had an issue in previous years, but this perpetual "needs review" issue was driving me nuts.

[AliciaP1]

Your Medical Expenses Worksheet may be hanging up on something.  You can delete the worksheet and re-enter your medical expenses and you should be able to proceed.

To delete a specific form in TurboTax Online you can follow these steps:

1. Within your return, click on Tax Tools in the black menu on the left side of the screen.
2. Click on Tools.
3. Click on Delete a Form. 
4. Scroll down to your Medical Expenses Worksheet and click Delete.
5. Under Federal in the black menu bar click Deductions & Credits to get back into your tax returns.
6. Scroll down to Medical Expenses and re-enter your information.
7. Proceed entering/reviewing your return.

To do this in TurboTax Desktop you can follow these steps:

1. Within your return, click on the Forms icon in the upper right of the screen to switch to Forms mode.
2. Scroll down in the menu bar on the left and select your Medical Expenses Worksheet.
3. Click the Delete Form button at the bottom left of the preview screen.
4. Confirm the deletion then click the Step-by-Step icon in the upper right of the screen.
5. Click on the Federal Taxes tab and Deductions & Credits and  I'll choose what I work on.
6. Scroll down to Medical Expenses and Start or Update and re-enter your information.
7. Proceed entering/reviewing your return.

@txkimball

[txkimball]

Thanks for this tip.  Unfortunately, after deleting and reentering, I still can't clear the "needs review" message.  Plus - when I click on the deduction summary - my medical expenses show $10K less than what I entered.  I'm concerned if I file the return as is, I won't get credit for all my medical expenses.