Can I deduct the payments that I make for a caregiver for my elderly mother who lives in another state?

[mike8408]

My mother, who lives in an independent living facility in another state requires caregiver assistance.  I contribute to the costs of that service.  Are those payments deductible?

[JohnW15]

You may be able to deduct these caregiving costs for your mother as medical expenses, if you itemize your deductions and certain other requirements are met.  These services don't necessarily need be performed by a nurse, as long as the services are of a kind generally performed by a nurse.

For more information that'll help you see if your expenses will qualify for a medical deduction, please see "Medical expenses" and "Deducting medical expenses for someone else" in the TurboTax article Tax Exemptions and Deductions for Families. 

Also, see "Nursing Services" on page 12 of IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses for a clearer idea of what might be deducted.

[JohnW15]

It's also possible, though it doesn't seem likely in the scenario you present, that you might qualify to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit.  Please see this link, just to check:  <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2716677-who-is-a-qualifying-person-for-the-child-and-dependent-car...>