Nursing Home Care and Tax Questions

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Steve - 14 Jan 2007 05:17 GMT

Apologies if I'm posting to the wrong group.

I have the means to fully pay my father's nursing home bills (at least
for a while), and am willing to do so since the place I'd like him to
stay in may not take Medicaid. His gross income is a bit higher than
what's required to have me declare him as a dependent. If that's so
could I still deduct his nursing home expenses (which would be 100% for
medical reasons) on my return?

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SJF - 14 Jan 2007 08:08 GMT

> Apologies if I'm posting to the wrong group.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> could I still deduct his nursing home expenses (which would be 100% for
> medical reasons) on my return?

It appears that you may.

My 2003 edition of IRS Publication 17, indicates that a parent who is a U.S.
citizen and who received over half his total support for the calendar year
from you can be included in your medical deductions. As I read it, those
medical (nursing home) costs will enter into the cost of his total support
and must be more than half the total. It also states that, "You can
include the medical expenses of any person who is your dependent even if you
cannot claim an exemption for him or her on your return."

SJF

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