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New Member
posted Jun 7, 2019 4:55:34 PM

When traveling to a medical facility in a different state by plane, can I deduct the miles flown round trip?

None of of the answers provided answered my question.

Can the miles flown by plane to a medical facility in a different state be deducted on your 1040? Not asking about deducting the cost of the ticket. In my case I used frequent flyer miles.

0 7 2078
1 Best answer
Level 9
Jun 7, 2019 4:55:45 PM

The "Standard Mileage Rate" only applies to automobiles, not other modes of transportation.
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502#en_US_2018_publink1000178840
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502#en_US_2018_publink1000179021

From the official Revenue Procedure:

"The term "standard mileage rate" means the amount the Service provides for optional use by taxpayers to substantiate the amount of-- (1) Deductible costs of operating for business purposes automobiles (including vans, pickups, or panel trucks) they own or lease, and (2) Deductible costs of operating automobiles for charitable, medical, or moving expense purposes."
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-10-51.pdf#page=5

7 Replies
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:55:35 PM

No, airline mileage is not a deductible medical travel expense.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:55:36 PM

Since you used Frequent Flyer miles, the trip did not cost you anything. So there is nothing to deduct.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:55:37 PM

I guess I not being very clear, the miles traveled by plane, can I count them as medical ?

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:55:40 PM

NO.

Alumni
Jun 7, 2019 4:55:43 PM

No, with a reference: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502">https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502</a>

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:55:45 PM

can someone tell me where in the 502 document it stated you can't count miles traveled by plane to a medical facility as medical miles?

Level 9
Jun 7, 2019 4:55:45 PM

The "Standard Mileage Rate" only applies to automobiles, not other modes of transportation.
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502#en_US_2018_publink1000178840
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502#en_US_2018_publink1000179021

From the official Revenue Procedure:

"The term "standard mileage rate" means the amount the Service provides for optional use by taxpayers to substantiate the amount of-- (1) Deductible costs of operating for business purposes automobiles (including vans, pickups, or panel trucks) they own or lease, and (2) Deductible costs of operating automobiles for charitable, medical, or moving expense purposes."
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-10-51.pdf#page=5