I want to add my medical expenses and I keep getting this message "We checked, and this deduction won't affect your taxes"

[BillM223]

TurboTax compares your itemized deductions and checks to see if they are greater than your Standard Deduction, to save you a lot of typing.

However, you may have a lot more itemized deductions to enter, so you should be able to click on "I want to enter expenses anyway" (or something like that), and you will be allowed to continue...

[bethanyjoy77]

I'm having the same problem.

[SharonD007]

You may be getting that message because your medical deductions must exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income to deduct as an itemized deduction.  Refer to the TurboTax article The Ultimate Medical Expense Deductions Checklist, and Are Medical Expenses Tax Deductible? for more information.

And as BillM223 states, your itemized deductions must exceed your Standard Deduction to affect your taxes.

Please review the TurboTax article Standard Deduction vs. Itemized Deductions: Which Is Better? to find out if you may be able to claim itemized deductions.

[bethanyjoy77]

My medical expenses do meet that requirement and the software has already suggested that I itemize.  I just need to be able to enter my medical expenses.  It let me enter some when I first went through the steps, but I want to add more now.  It won't give me that option.

[emalabeth]

I have been using turbotax for 20 years, and I am a financial (not tax) accountant by trade. So I do feel as though have experience and knowledge and this is not letting me do what I need to do. 
there is no option to “add expenses “ 

i am itemizing because I have my own business and many expenses. 
I have tried to search for the schedule but it brings me right back to the message. 

sounds like it’s a problem if others are experiencing it as well. 
i have over the % for medical and how would turbo tax know what my medical expenses are when I have not entered them

[DianeW777]

If you would like to send us a “diagnostic” file that has your “numbers” but not your personal information it would help.  If you would like to do this, here are the instructions: 

TurboTax Online:

Open your return -Go to the menu panel on the left side of your return and select Tax Tools. 

1. Then select Tools below Tax Tools. 
2. A window will pop up which says Tools Center.  
3. On this screen, select Share my file with Agent. 
4. You will see a message explaining what the diagnostic copy is.  Click okay through this screen and then you will get a Token number. 
5. Reply to this thread with your Token number and your state. This will allow us to open a copy of your return without seeing any personal information.  

TurboTax Desktop:

If you like, you can send a copy of your return that will be scrubbed to eliminate your personal data by using these steps:

1. Click on Online in the top left menu of TurboTax CD/Download for Windows
2. Select 'Send Tax File to Agent'
3. Write down or send an image of your token number and state then place in this issue.
4. We can then review your exact scenario for a solution.
5. Please also tell us any states included in the return. This is necessary for us to view the return.

We will then be able to see exactly what you are seeing and we can determine what exactly is going on in your return and provide you with a resolution. 

@emalabeth 

[emalabeth]

Pennsylvania 

1281930

[DianeW777]

Here is the solution for entering your other medical expenses along with the self employed health insurance. And thank you for bringing this forward.

In TurboTax Desktop first remove the self employed health insurance in your business expenses. Be sure to complete the section going through all screens until you are back at the beginning of that section, then continue. 

This will allow you to enter your medical expenses in the Step-by-Step. Next, go to the personal Deductions & Credits to enter all other medical expenses. Once this is completed, again finish this section of your return. Go back to your business and select Edit beside your business. Then  go back to update Other Common Business Expenses. Add back your self employed health insurance amount. 

This completes the process in Step-by-Step so that you can continue and finish your return. This experience does not happen in TurboTax Online.

@emalabeth 

[swedebythesea]

I have the same problem. I itemize and my medical expenses are larger than 7.5% of AGI, I can not enter the expenses, I only get the message: 

"We checked, and this deduction won't affect your taxes"

I have shard my return with an agent, CA state and token 1297740.

Please help!

[AnnetteB6]

If you are using a desktop version of TurboTax, follow these steps:

1. Go to Forms at the top of your screen.  
2. Then look for Medical Wks in the list of forms on the left side of the screen.  
3. Click on that form, then click the Delete Form button at the bottom of the screen.  This will reset the Medical Expense section of your return.  
4. Click the Step-by-Step button at the top of the screen to go back to the data entry for your return.

If you are using TurboTax Online, follow these steps:

1. From the left rail menu in TurboTax Online, select Tax Tools (You may have to scroll down on the left rail menu.)
2. On the drop-down select Tools
3. On the Pop-Up menu titled “Tools Center,” select Delete a Form 
4. This will show all of the forms in your return -- look for Medical Wks or Medical Worksheet
5. Select the Form
6. Click on Delete. 

@swedebythesea 
 

[adriannye]

The steps for the Mac desktop version are incorrect.  After click "Medical Wks" there is no option to delete the form at the bottom of the page as described (or anywhere else for that matter).  The only way to delete the form is the Forms menu at the top of the screen (not in the Turbotax window).   It has a "Remove Medical Wks" option.  It would be easy to miss this if you are looking for "Delete".