| Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 214 Likes: 1 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 214 Likes: 1 | Tax question?
This whole cancer thing started in june. I will have 90% of the treatment done by Jan 1. I am wondering how to go about trying to claim all this stuff on my taxes. Has any one gone through this and were able to claim heath expenes on there tax form?
Hockey Dad 43, No smoke, Small BOT HPV+16 8/30/12 Biopsy found SCC in Lymph node (removed) 9/19 DX 4a T1N2aM0 10/1 TX 2x Cisplatin 35 IMRT 70 gry (Done 11/15) PEG tube in 11/7. Out 1/4, Back at work 2/4/13 PET 2/13 Clear, 10/16 all Scopes Clear, 4/14 Chest X-ray Clear, 5/14 Abdominal ultrasound Clear, 8 yrs clean!!!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | David is the expert.
As far as I know, you will need to file the long version in order to claim write offs. There are thresholds to meet and then you get a percentage of all your years medical expenses to help offset the amount of tax you owe. You will need to file the long version in order to claim write offs. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 118 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 118 | I believe it must be % of your adjusted income. That's what our accountant said.
Bette/CG to husband Reggie 66
dx 1: SCC Soft Palate (12/06) tx: chemo and rad
dx 2: SCC 6 cm tum rt. vocal chord (12/09) tx: total laryngectomy with stoma, 2 nodes
dx 3: SCC 4 cm tum BOT (10/16/12) Tx: partial gloss w/ mod deck dis 4 nodes incl. part. pharyngectomy
| | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | Absolutely,
Between your premiums (all premiums...health, dental, vision, long term care), your deductibles, mileage roundtrip (get a calendar and chart all doctor/health facility visits..last year was 19 cents a mile), drugs, and any non-covered medical expenses, you can rack up a bunch in a year and a percentage of that is deductible. I will let the tax experts explain that percentage in case it has changed but for me last year it was anything above 7.5% of our adjusted gross income.
Bill is retired on Medicare. I am employed part time with no health benefits and under 65 so I have to pay for private health insurance. Even this past year with relatively few doctor visits, our total medical expenses were over $12,000 and we were able to deduct $7500 of that.
So, it is now well worth my time to gather all this info for tax purposes.
Deb
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997. DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0 TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5. TREATMENT END: 10/1/07 PEG OUT: 1/08 PORT OUT: 4/09 FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | DavidCPA is the resident Tax expert. But to deduct medical expenses you have to itemize your deductions on Schedule A rather than take the standard deduction. If are deducting your mortgage interest payments, then you are already filing Schedule A. After this tax year of 2012, the percentage goes up from 7.5 of your Adjusted Gross income (AGI) to 10% of what you need to exceed to take the deductions ((for taxpayers 65 and older, it stays at 7.5% through 2016). Here is a link to an IRS tax sheet that spells it out topic 502 Each year the IRS updates a full publication on taking this deduction. Here is the most current one irs pub med deductions with lots of detail The key is to start now gathering all this info and use the topic list and the extensive lists in the publication to be sure you do not miss any. Each year, I rack up about $15,000 in deductions (it'd be more but my BC/BS has a $6,000 catastrophe limit that I easily hit) although I don't get to deduct all of it, it does help. charm
Last edited by Charm2017; 12-17-2012 08:50 AM. Reason: typos
65 yr Old Frack Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+ 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Apaghia /G button 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa 40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Long form???? Christine that language went out 100 years ago! lol Anyway Charm is correct. One must itemize their deductions to claim any medical expenses as Deb has listed out so nicely. The BIG problem is the 7.5% of you AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) that one must subtract before you can include any remaining medical expenses as an Itemized deduction. Only if the sum of your Itemized deductions exceeds the Standard deduction you are entitled to does it make sense to use Sch A. Also note that you must PAY these expenses on or before Dec 31 to claim them but paying them by credit card is considered payment even if you don't pay the CC balance off for years.
I have for the last 5 years (6 counting the 2012 filing season) offered to prepare or even help prepare any member's tax return for FREE so if you or anyone is interested PM me. I do ask that in return for my services that you make a contribution to the OFC. No minimum and of course no maximum.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 214 Likes: 1 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 214 Likes: 1 | The big question I have is I spent $7,414 in premiums, and about $7,000 out of pocket, 2 kids braces, wife surgery. So about $14,000. The premiums are excluded from fed wages. I will be above 7.5% of AGI. Is everything above 7.5% deductable of the $14,000?
As for what to include Co pay Dr bills Hospitol bills Transportations milage Supplies. (Boost???)
Do you just add them up and post to sch A? Or do you need proof of everything?
Hockey Dad 43, No smoke, Small BOT HPV+16 8/30/12 Biopsy found SCC in Lymph node (removed) 9/19 DX 4a T1N2aM0 10/1 TX 2x Cisplatin 35 IMRT 70 gry (Done 11/15) PEG tube in 11/7. Out 1/4, Back at work 2/4/13 PET 2/13 Clear, 10/16 all Scopes Clear, 4/14 Chest X-ray Clear, 5/14 Abdominal ultrasound Clear, 8 yrs clean!!!
| | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | Just like any other income tax item, documentation should be there in case you are audited. Good sources of that are:
Credit Card Statements
EOB's (Explanation of Benefits) from each physician as this will have Dates of Service so you can do your mileage calendar.
Billing statements from insurance companies for premiums.
Pay stubs with a year to date figure for medical deductions.
Actual receipts
Drug stores such as Walgreens and CVS can provide an annual statement of prescription purchases.
If you do Online Bill Pay thru your bank, you can document payments to one payee during the year such as an insurance premium.
Hope this helps and thanks to DavidCPA for the bottom line on medical deductions.
Deb
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997. DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0 TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5. TREATMENT END: 10/1/07 PEG OUT: 1/08 PORT OUT: 4/09 FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Good question, good answers. Your offer is a nice gesture, David.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Hockey Dad,
If your Med Ins Prems are not paid by you in "after tax dollars" then they will not be included in what you can deduct. I would have to see either your pay stub or your W-2 or know more about your statement..."The premiums are excluded from fed wages."
True about the documentation but one's "average" chances of being audited are less than 2% so do your best but don't stress out over this. Also, absent fraud, the IRS can only audit your return generally for 3 years.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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