Explore All Topics

If I can’t claim my child as a dependent. I am claiming non-dependent medical expenses for the medical treatment I paid for. Is this allowed by the IRS?

1 min read


1 min read


Exceptions exist for claiming non-dependent medical expenses on your tax return. The exceptions allow you to claim medical expenses of someone who is not your dependent. You can claim an exception for any of these people:

  • A person who was your dependent either:
    • When the service was performed
    • When the medical expense was paid
  • A child of divorced or separated parents. This child is treated as a dependent of both parents. Each parent can claim the medical expenses he or she paid for the child. For this to apply:
    • The child must be in the custody of one or both parents for more than half the year and receive over half of his or her support during the year from his or her parents.
    • One of these must apply to the parents:
      • They’re divorced or legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance.
      • They’re separated under a written separation agreement.
      • They’ve lived apart at all times during the last six months of the year.
  • An individual you would have been allowed to claim as a dependent except one of these applied:
    • He or she received gross income of $4,700 or more in the year.
    • He or she filed a joint return for the year.
    • You (or your spouse if married filing jointly) could be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return in the current year.

 

Was this topic helpful?