Medical Deductions

[simoman]

I believe that I may have more deductions than the 30,000 Standard Deduction, yet Turbo Tax does not allow me to enter medical deductions.  Why?

[xmasbaby0]

It is very hard to get the medical expense deduction because you have not one, but two, tough thresholds to meet.

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)

[simoman]

My question was WHY Tuebox tax assumes that my Medical expenses are not going to reach an amount greater than the 7% over my adjusted gross income to impact my deductions over the standard deduction.  I should be able to input it all before it assumes that the standard deduction is all that I can have.  Right?

[xmasbaby0]

What makes you think the software is assuming you will not have enough medical expenses?  What happens when you try to enter your medical expenses?  

Go to

Federal>Deductions and Credits>Medical>Medical Expenses

[VolvoGirl]

What is you filing status?  Are you married?  Are you filing a Joint return or as Married filing Separately?  If you are filing MFS you have to file the same way as your spouse either Standard Deduction or Itemized.  When you entered the spouse name you have to pick which one they are using.  

[simoman]

The software will not let me input the detail (nor summary) medical expenses.  It provides a place to put them in, but will not let me type the numbers into it.

[simoman]

MFJ

[xmasbaby0]

What software do you have?   Are you using online or CD/download?   If it is the CD/download---what version--Basic, Deluxe, Premier or Home and Business?

[simoman]

C/D download Basic

[DoninGA]

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@simoman wrote:

C/D download Basic

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Is there a prefilled $0 in the box for the medical expenses?  If not, try this procedure if you are using TurboTax for Windows -

Save your tax return and close the TurboTax program

Right click on the TurboTax icon

Click on Properties

Click on the Compatibility tab

Check the box Run this program as an administrator

Click on Apply and on OK

Start the TurboTax program again and see if the problem persists

[Critter-3]

PRIOR YEAR USE OF A SUPPORTING DETAILS WORKSHEET :

If you find you have a  $0  in an entry field that cannot be changed … this issue is almost always one in which you used a "Supporting Details"  (SD) sheet in that field in the prior year.   What happens is that when you transfer in the prior year's data, the SD sheet is transferred too, but empty...and that causes the $0 to show up in many areas of the Step-by-Step mode interview....wherever the SD sheet was used before.

But when switching to Forms Mode, when you try to enter a $$ amount in a field where the SD sheet is attached, the SD sheet will pop up immediately, and you can either enter the $$ amount on that sheet, or delete the SD sheet entirely and avoid future issues (unless you really want the SD sheet)

Sometimes, when you see the $0 in Step-by-Step, you can just

1. a)  double-click on the field and the SD sheet will pop up.  But I've seen that doesn't work in all cases.

1. b)  Another way is to click on the field, then go up to the menu..."<<Edit<<<Add Supporting Details"....then the SD sheet pops up and you can use it, or delete the SD sheet entirely and then the regular field will work properly.

1. c)  OR  click on the problem field, then switch to Forms Mode to make that entry

[simoman]

There is a prefilled “0” unfortunately.