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Returning Member
posted Mar 10, 2024 7:11:10 PM

Turbo tax does not allow me to add medical expense for State Tax

I want to deduct medical expenses (ie prescription drugs and Dr copay) from my State Taxes but when I try to enter them into Turbo tax federal deduction and credits/ 

 

I never get the chance to enter the information.  It says the following after asking about High Deductible Health Plan, it never ask about copays or prescription drugs.

 Thanks, we got all your Medical Expense info

Right now, the Standard Deduction saves you the most on taxes.

0 9 2463
9 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 11, 2024 11:08:47 AM

Verify you have selected the right topic/place to enter medical expenses.  In the federal "Deductions & Credits" section scroll down to the "Medical" dropdown.  "Start/Revisit" "Medical Expenses". Any medical expenses that might apply to your state return will flow automatically from these federal entries.   

 

Your post sounds like you may have entered the HSA, MSA contributions topic earlier.   

Returning Member
Mar 11, 2024 6:59:43 PM

Following your instructions I click on update  button ( Medical Expenses ) under the Medical section and Turbo tax states:

 

Thanks, we got all your Medical Expense info
 
Right now, the Standard Deduction saves you the most on taxes.

Expert Alumni
Mar 13, 2024 10:35:03 AM

Let's work around the program. Go back to federal deductions and go down to charity. Add a crazy number like $100,000 in charity and the program will decide you can itemize. Enter your medical expenses, mileage to doctors and medicine pick up, dentist, vision, etc. Then go back to charity and take out the entry.

 

Reference: Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses

Returning Member
Mar 13, 2024 7:05:15 PM

Increased 1 of my charity contributions to 100k went back to medical expenses and now I get 

 

 
We checked, and this deduction won't affect your taxes
We'll keep looking for other tax breaks for you.
 

Expert Alumni
Mar 14, 2024 8:57:27 AM

Which makes sense for federal, and it should have flowed through to the state. Are you good with your state forms now?

Returning Member
Mar 14, 2024 6:33:07 PM

It did not, but after I removed the 1095-a I can now put in prescription expenses.  Hopefully i can put the 1095-a back in

Employee Tax Expert
Mar 14, 2024 6:38:04 PM

The questions about the HDHP are from the HSA section.   You have to go to itemized deductions to enter your medical expenses.   To enter your:

 

  • Medical expenses - search Schedule A and use the jump to link, you will land on RX costs
  • Form 1095-A - search 1095-A and use the jump to link, you will be able to enter your form after answering Yes. 

You can do these in any order and go back and forth if needed.  

Level 2
Apr 9, 2024 4:25:16 PM

I ran into the same problem as bbqking692020.  When I try to change the amount of my medical expenses, Turbo Tax tells me:  "We checked, and this deduction won't affect your taxes"

 

In other words, I never get a chance to change my medical expense amount.  I think this is a bug in TurboTax.

 

DawnC answered: "Medical expenses - search Schedule A and use the jump to link, you will land on RX costs"

 

I had to explore a bit to discover what I think DawnC is suggesting.

 

Here are detailed instruction of what I did:

 

Go to TurboTax's "View" menu and select "Forms".  (Alternatively, press Control + 2)

 

Then in the left hand column, which lists all the forms, find "Schedule A", and then below "Schedule A" is "Medical Wks".  Click on "Medical Wks".

 

The Medical Expenses Worksheet will appear, and you can directly enter numbers into it.

 

Hope this helps.

 

(Aside: In my case, my medical expenses were not high enough to change my taxes.  However, I can enter a fictitiously high number, and see that the taxes do change.  So it appears to be working.)

 

Employee Tax Expert
Apr 9, 2024 4:40:51 PM

Your way will work too, but I was referencing search in the interview from the magnifying glass.   Another thing to check while you are in Forms Mode:  Go to Forms Mode and scroll to the Info Wks page and select it.    Scroll down to Part VI.   Under Standard Deduction/Itemized Deductions.   Remove the 3rd X (if it is there), and you should then be able to switch your deduction.