Can you write off the costs of Braces??

Question

I want to get braces this year and get some needed medical work done. I want to deduct them from my taxes next year but I was told if the amount does not total my standard deduction then I cannot write off. Is this true??

Answer 1

braces and medical work would be reported on Schedule A - Itemized Deductions of your 1040. But to be deductible the medical expenses have to exceed 7.5% of your AGI for the year (last line on page 1 of your 1040), and you also have to have all your itemized deductions (state income taxes or sales taxes, real estate taxes, personal property taxes, mortgage interest, points, cash charitable contributions, non-cash charitable contributions, etc) exceed your standard deduction in order to be able to itemize.

Answer 2

You can only use it if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A. You add up all your medical expenses (You can include the cost of health insurance, eyeglasses, dental work, prescription drugs, hospital and doctor bills and anything else that your doctor ordered.) Then you multiply your income by 7.5% and subtract that from the total of your medical insurance. Whatever's leftover you can deduct.

Your standardized deduction may be higher than what your total itemized deductions add up to, in which case you would be better off using the standard amount. Unfortunately, then you can't add the cost of your braces. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Just to be sure and compliment what the others are not saying:

You can deduct the cost of those braces ANYWAY through the standard deduction. You get to itemize when you have more deductions than the Standard Deduction. Yes, you can deduct braces if they are more than 7.5% of AGI, but if your standard deduction is larger, you get the benefit of your standard deduction.

Whether you itemize or not does not depend solely on Medical expenses. It also depends on the SUM TOTAL OF Medical expenses in excess of 7.5% AGI, State and local taxes (real estate tax you paid on your home and state income taxes you had deducted from your paycheck among other taxes), loan interest, charitable contributions (your tithe to your church and donations to goodwill), and miscellaneous expenses (like unreimbursed travel expenses you incurred for your job, how much you spent to get your taxes done, gambling losses to the extent of winnings, investment expenses, etc.).

You get to write those braces off anyway because of the Standard Deduction which will cover those braces and a few more dollars to boot. You get to ITEMIZE WHEN YOUR TOTAL ALLOWABLE EXPENSES EXCEEDS YOUR STANDARD DEDUCTION.

Writing off your braces and being able to itemize your deductions are two different things. It is easy to get these messed up.

Answer 4

Braces are a medical deduction.

You add up all of your medical deductions (including mileage) and subtract 7.5% of your income.

You then add up all of your itemized deductions:
1) Medical (from above)
2) State Income or State Sales taxes
3) Real Estate taxes
4) Mortgage Interest
5) Charitable Contributions
6) Unreimbursed work expenses.

This number must be over your standard deduction in order to get a tax benefit.

Generally speaking, the mortgage interest will be the biggest so, unless you own a house and are paying interest, you probably won't have enough to itemize.

Answer 5

Medical expenses, including dental expenses must be reduced by 7.5% of your AGI before the remained can be claimed as itemized deductions. You are ALLOWED to itemize deductions even if the total is less than your standard deduction. However, if you did, your taxable income woulds be more that if you simply claimed the standard deduction. That amounts to volunteering to pay the IRS more. They will let you, but why would you want to?

Answer 6

Not exactly true. The standard deduction is an amount that's given to you automatically to cover deductible expenses. If your TOTAL itemized deductions are more than the standard, then you'd itemize them. For medical expenses, you total them up, then subtract 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Then add the remainder to any other itemized deductions you have, and if the total is higher than your standard deduction, you would itemize (list) your deductions.

Answer 7

bostonianinmo had a very good answer. I will have to add that if the braces are more than cosmetic, then they are deductible. For example, if your dentist told you there was a medical reason for you to get braces, not just to look pretty, then they are deductible.

Bostonianinmo, do you agree with that?

Answer 8

Medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income are deductible if they exceed your standard deduction.

Additionally, only necessary expenses for the treatment or cure of disease or injury are deductible. Expenses for cosmetic procedures are not deductible regardless of the cost. Orthodontia often comes under the heading of cosmetic work and is therefore non-deductible.

Dave (below) is exactly on the mark with his additional information. If the work is deemed medically necessary then it is deductible.

Answer 9

yes