The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 made several changes to the tax code, including those that affect how healthcare expenses are treated. While the new law doesn’t change the fact that you may be able to deduct some medical expenses, it does mean that not all such expenses are deductible. The following information will help you keep track of your medical travel expenses so you can decide whether they qualify:
Where did you go?
Did you visit your family, or take a vacation? You can deduct the cost of travel for medical treatment as long as it’s to another area code or province. You can also deduct the cost of travelling directly from Point A to Point B for medical treatment. It doesn’t matter if you travelled through several different locations before arriving at your destination!
Was it an overnight stay, or just a brief trip? For example, if it was just a 2 hour drive away and you had to pay $6 tolls on both ends of the drive (and nothing else) then we may not be able to accept this deduction because it would seem like overkill when there are other ways (like taking public transit) that could have been used instead – are travel expenses tax deductible.
Why did you go?
The next step is to determine what the purpose of your trip was and how it relates to your medical condition. As an example, if you went on vacation to Hawaii because you wanted a break from being sick and had heard that it was a beautiful place, then this would not be considered a deductible expense. However, if you went on vacation to Hawaii as part of receiving treatment for cancer at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where you live, then this would be considered a deductible expense.
There are two ways that this can happen:
- You made arrangements with your doctor before going somewhere new (like booking appointments or asking them questions about what treatments might be available).
What did it cost?
If you’re traveling for medical reasons, it’s important to know what medical travel expenses are tax deductible.
Medical travel expenses can include airfare and car rental costs, as well as hotel stays while in a different city. These types of costs are not only tax deductible but also can help save you money on your taxes. However, if your trip is purely for pleasure or business purposes, these types of expenses may not be eligible for deduction.
Are there any tax breaks available to you?
In order to fully take advantage of the tax break offered by medical travel, you need to find out if it’s something your accountant will allow. It’s also important that you ask your tax preparer and make sure they understand the IRS rules surrounding this deduction.
If you don’t feel comfortable asking these professionals directly, there are plenty of online resources that can help guide you through this process.
If none of these options work for you, don’t be afraid to turn to others in your life who might have an answer! A doctor or nurse may know what types of deductions are permitted; if not, they’ll likely know someone who does. Your employer might also have some insight into whether or not medical travel expenses are tax deductible. Even friends and family members could be able to direct you towards someone who could give some insight as well!
Make sure to keep track of your medical travel expenses – some may be tax deductible.
You can deduct the cost of medical travel if it qualifies. Keep track of your receipts and record of your travel expenses, so that you have a record to back up your tax return claims- are travel expenses tax deductible.
Hopefully, this article has cleared up some of the confusion that surrounds medical travel expenses. As you can see, there are a lot of potential tax breaks available to you if you plan ahead and keep track of your spending. It’s not just about getting a break on your taxes – it’s also about keeping yourself healthy!
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