i pay a monthly fee to my dental office for reduced fees on dental work. what do i categorize them as in my itemizations. is it a premium? i paid alot in med expenses '24

[xmasbaby0]

When you enter medical expenses in TurboTax, it asks you a whole lot of questions to help you include everything that can be entered.  Really what matters in the end is the total of all of it; that is what will go on your tax form, so don't get too frazzled trying to make sure everything is in the "right" category as long as you enter it all, and do not enter anything twice. 

If you receive Social Security benefits, your Medicare is deducted from your SS.   When you enter the SSA1099 for your Social Security, the amount paid for Medicare flows automatically to the medical expense section of the software, so do not enter it again.

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 2024—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

2024 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $14,600    (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY            $14,600    (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $29,200    (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $21,900    (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)

[LindaS5247]

The IRS considers dental insurance premiums to be spending towards something that prevents or alleviates disease, and therefore eligible to be deducted as part of your medical expenses when you itemize using Form Schedule A.. 

Medical expenses include dental expenses. You can deduct your medical expenses on your Form Schedule A of your Form 1040. Only the part of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income is deductible.

You can enter you medical expenses as follows:

1. Click on Search at the top right corner of your TurboTax screen.
2. Type "medical expenses" in the search box.
3. Click on the link "Jump to medical expenses"
4. You will be asked, "Did you have any medical expenses in 2024?" Answer "Yes"
5. You will be asked, "Tell us about any prescription medication expenses" enter your prescription costs
6. And select "Continue"
7. The next screen says, "Tell us about anything spent on medical professionals"
8. You can enter your fees there for your dentist
9. You will then answer the remaining screens regarding your medical expenses.

Your screens will look something like this.

To search for the entry screens for medical expenses:

To enter your dental fees:

Click here for "Publication 502 (2024), Medical and Dental Expenses"

Click here for "Are Medical Expenses Tax Deductible?"

Click here for "Can I deduct medical expenses?"