Dental

[Ugleefacebraingood]

I am retired. I took out 20K from retirement funding 12/25 to pay huge dental bill, but the dentist did not cash the check until January of 2026. Is there a way to reduce my 2025 tax liability? This mess bumped me up to a higher tax bracket.

[MinhT1]

If you sent or handed over to the dentist the check before December 31, 2025, then it is considered that you paid your dental bill in 2025, even if the dentist only cashed the check in January, 2026.

[DoninGA]

If the check was written on 12/31/2025 or earlier it is a valid medical expense and should be entered on your 2025 tax return as an itemized deduction on Schedule A.