Posted by RickinVA on 1/2/09 7:10pm
Msg #273372

To a tax pro-John/No Cal

The last question was finally answered by MW/Va. Thanks Marilynn . THe next question: Is the mileage allowed by the IRS for medical usage also available for trips to visit a spouse that
is in a rehabilitatave facility, ordered by a doctor?

Rick

Reply by RickinVA on 1/2/09 7:16pm
Msg #273373

Sorry, I meant to include PAW with MW/VA in the above.

Rick

Reply by PAW on 1/2/09 7:31pm
Msg #273375

From what I remember when I was a tax practitioner, the 'medical mileage' was "for, and essential to, medical care." So, going to visit someone in the hospital, for example, may not be considered "essential". Now, if you can get a doctor's note stating that your visits to your spouse that is in a rehabilitation facility to be essential to her recovery, then you would have a good case, imo.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/2/09 7:37pm
Msg #273376

From IRS.gov for 2008 returns

You can include in medical expenses amounts paid for Trips transportation primarily for, and essential to, medical care.

You can include:
· Bus, taxi, train, or plane fares or ambulance service, essential to, receiving medical services.
· Transportation expenses of a nurse or other person who can give injections, medications, or other treatment required by a patient who is traveling to get medical care and is unable to travel alone, and
· Transportation expenses for regular visits to see a mentally ill dependent, if these visits are recommended as a part of treatment.

You can take actual expenses or, if you choose to take the allotted mileage, it's $.19 from 1/1 -6/30/2008 and $.27 from 71 - 12/31/2008

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/2/09 7:39pm
Msg #273377

Sorry, that's 7/1 - not 71.... n/m

Reply by RickinVA on 1/2/09 8:05pm
Msg #273383

OK, Thank you all! For those who are interested, My wife had a relatively
minor stroke the weekend before Christmas. On Christmas eve, the day
after release from the hospital, she fell and broke her hip. She spent the next 6
days in the hospital, then was transferred to a rehab facility. Since that is about
80 miles from home, I was trying to decide if I could deduct the mileage for
2009, since she is liable to be there for several weeks or months+. ( I won't
take the trouble)
For those that were concerned about my giving info to borrowers or
performing UPL, I am not a complete idiot. (Just a partial one)

Rick

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/2/09 8:07pm
Msg #273384

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, Rick...

Hope she recovers quickly and is back home with you in a flash...will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 1/2/09 8:28pm
Msg #273385

Sorry to hear that. I wish her a speedy recovery, Rick. n/m

Reply by CopperheadVA on 1/2/09 9:00pm
Msg #273388

Rick, so sorry to hear about your wife's health troubles! My best wishes to her for a speedy recovery!

Reply by MW/VA on 1/3/09 10:20am
Msg #273435

Sorry to hear about your wife's health problems, Rick. I'll keep you in may thoughts & prayers. For now, take care of yourselves & deal with the tax questions later. Always remember, you can get most of the info you need on IRS.gov.

Reply by John_NorCal on 1/3/09 9:53am
Msg #273432

**Is the mileage allowed by the IRS for medical usage also available for trips to visit a spouse that is in a rehabilitatave facility, ordered by a doctor? **

Short answer - no. If you were a qualified caregiver, and your wife needed assistance in her daily activities then you would have certain deductions available to you. The fact that you are going to visit her while she is in a care facility would not qualify.

Going a little further, if you find that you need to make improvements to your home because of a medical need, i.e. ramps, elevator, swimming pool, then there could be an allowable deduction to the extent that the improvements do not add value to your home.

Sorry to hear of your wifes condition. I wish the best for both of you and a speedy recovery for your wife.