Comments on: Ask the taxgirl: Paying someone else’s health care expenses

By: Roon

Roon — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:04:55 +0000

If Mom is paying health-care expenses for non-dependent kids and it is considered a gift she’s giving them, can THEY deduct the expense on THEIR taxes? Is there a scenario under which that make sense? Would there be any advantage to Mom giving them the cash and THEY pay the provider?

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:34:44 +0000

Liable is a bit much said. If you’re claiming your adult child, you’re saying to the IRS that you have provided at least 1/2 of the child’s support for the year. Ostensibly, that would include medical expenses.

From a legal perspective, that doesn’t mean you could be forced by a 3rd party to pay for services that you otherwise haven’t agreed to be responsible for…

By: Jay Jones

Jay Jones — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:57:19 +0000

Am I liable for the medical expenses of my 25 year old son just because I take him as a dependent on my federal income tax?

By: Ask the taxgirl: Health Insurance Premiums for Family

Ask the taxgirl: Health Insurance Premiums for Family — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:13:21 +0000

[...] Absolutely! You can claim the cost of health insurance as a deduction on Schedule A so long as the expenses are for you, your spouse and/or your dependents. [...]

By: Ask the taxgirl: Timing of Medical Expenses | taxgirl

Ask the taxgirl: Timing of Medical Expenses | taxgirl — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 11:56:50 +0000

[...] Keep in mind that you can only deduct those medical expenses that you pay for yourself, your spouse and your dependents. [...]

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:30:38 +0000

Gifting is the right answer, but you can choose who you gift to. Mom could ask her church to act as a charitable conduit in the transaction. Mom gifts to the church (a Schedule A deduction for her), and the church pays the health care bill for daughter. Just make sure the church agrees to it in advance. You might find another charitable NFP that would do the same transaction, and might be safer, since Mom could place a donor restriction on the figt. Personally, I’m not very trusting. I would swap checks at the same time, just to make sure it happened the way I planned. But that’s just me.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:20:10 +0000

Milt,

Thanks for bringing this back around…

I’m not sure that the sisters – if they’re adults and not being supported by the mother at least half time – would qualify as dependents. But you’re right that if they are dependents, the expenses would be deductible for income tax purposes.

By: Milton Baker CPA

Milton Baker CPA — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:55:13 +0000

I understand that you can have a deduction if they qualify as a dependent except for income

Milt Baker CPA

By: (Taxman) Mike

(Taxman) Mike — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:23:05 +0000

The imposition of a tax does NOT establish “Liability” for said tax.

Also the US Supreme Court has defined the word “Income” as being “Gain or Profit from corporate activity” so what you have been mislead to believe is income actually is NOT income at all!!!

You see, words in law have a completely different meaning than words in the common use of the English language.

I do indeed pay “my share” man. I pay ALL taxes the “Law” requires me to, and NO more.

Mark Twain
“In the Beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.”

Edward Abbey
“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.”

J. Edgar Hoover
“No matter how paranoid or conspiracy-minded you are, what the government is actually doing is worse than you imagine.”

By: Pancho

Pancho — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:14:32 +0000

Dear Mike:

Section 1- “There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of [every person] a tax determined in accordance with the following table…”.

Just pay your share, man.

Pancho
Houston, TX