Question

TurboTax not deducting medical expenses

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 26, 2025
1 reply
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Why won't TurboTax deduct medical expenses and premiums when then exceed the 7.5% standard deduction. My year was virtually the same as last year when I was able to claim the itemized deductions. This year expenses are well over the 7.5% but TurboTax is only me offering the standard deduction. What am I doing wrong?

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xmasbaby0

There is more than one threshold to meet. For medical expenses, only the amount that is over 7.5% of your AGI counts as an itemized deduction on Schedule A. But the medical expenses are used with any other itemized deductions you enter like mortgage interest, property tax, charity donations....and if the total of your itemized deductions on Schedule A does not exceed your standard deduction, the medical expenses have no effect on your refund or tax due.

Your itemized deductions have to be more than your standard deduction before you will see a change in your tax owed or tax refund. The deductions you enter do not necessarily count “dollar for dollar;” many of them are subject to meeting tough thresholds—medical expenses, for example, must meet a threshold that is pretty hard to reach. (Only the amount that is MORE than 7.5% of your AGI counts) The software program uses all the IRS rules that apply to the expenses you enter, and it tells you if you have enough to use your itemized deductions or if using the standard deduction is more advantageous for you. Under the tax laws that have been in effect since 2018, some deductions have been capped—there is a $10,000 limit to the itemized deductions for state, local, property and sales taxes.

The standard deduction makes some of your income “tax free.” It is not a refund. You will see your standard or itemized deduction amount on line 12 of your 2024 Form 1040.

2024 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $14,600 (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $14,600 (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $29,200 (65 or older/legally blind + $1550)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $21,900 (65 or older/legally blind + $1950)

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

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patriciahakeAuthor

Thank you for the info. I think I explained it incorrectly. My standard deduction is $2057 but my medical expenses are over $11,000. However, Turbotax is only giving me the standard. I show everything entered in correctly. I compared it to last year. I'm clueless. Any help is appreciated.

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xmasbaby0

Are you being claimed as someone else's dependent? That is the only explanation I can think of for your standard deduction to be that low. If you are someone else's dependent, then the person who claims you as a dependent can enter your medical expenses on their return if they are itemizing.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**