Would enough medical deductions constitute a refund?

[AmyD]

My grandmother stopped filing taxes after being told by a tax specialist she did not have a filing requirement and her SS income stayed relatively the same. She later acquired an annuity with taxable interest, but never considered taxes, so did not file. 

Several years ago, she was in assisted living and for a short while and spent approximately $18k to them. I do not think the full 18k would have been alotted to "medical type expenses," some of it was "room and board."

So, A] I am not sure if she would have had a filing requirement based off the amount of interest she would have got from her annuity. She may have been slightly over or slightly under.

B] If she was over the limit, and was supposed to have filed, would the medical deductions allot her a possible refund?

C] Is it even worth it to worry about as this was about 6 or 7 years ago and she has since passed away. (There was no estate or probate that needed to be followed through on, however, so nothing the IRS could try to audit.)

Just wondering if there is a potential refund to pursue or not. 

Thanks!

[MinhT · Accepted solution]

The medical expenses deduction by itself however large can never generate a refund because she did not have any federal tax withheld.

The refund is the difference between tax withheld and tax due, plus any refundable credit such as the earned income credit. As she had no tax withheld or tax credit, there is no possibility of refund.

[AmyD]

Thank you!! That is kind of what I was wondering, but I was not entirely sure. Saved me HOURS of trying to figure it out for myself. Thanks!!

[fanfare]

you cannot file for a refund six years in the past.