If I have dental and vision that I pay for in box 14 on my W4 and it states pre tax... what does that mean? Do I still enter the number and label it as medical expenses?

[ToddL99 · Accepted solution]

Since you are paying for your dental and vision coverage with pre-tax dollars, you cannot claim the costs as deductible medical expenses.

"Pre-tax" means your employer paid the premiums with money you earned, but  didn't have to pay income tax on - those earnings were not included in Box 1 (Wages) of your W-2.

Allowing you to deduct the costs from your taxable income, when the money used was never included in your taxable income would be a "double - benefit", not allowed  by the IRS.

[ja4vets]

Does this mean this amount (K) needs to be added as income on the form 1040?

[BrittanyS]

No, the amount is only a reporting number for you pre-taxed medical and dental expenses during the year.  It will not be used when calculating your taxable income.  

@ja4vets