Is it true that I can deduct my long-term-care insurance premiums on my tax return this spring? Can I write off the entire premium?
If you have a tax-qualified long-term-care insurance policy, you can count a portion of the premium as a tax-deductible medical expense. Medical expenses are deductible to the extent they exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income (or more than 7.5% of AGI if you’re 65 or older). Most long-term-care policies issued in the past several years meet the requirements (ask your insurer about yours). See IRS Publication 502 for more information about eligible long-term-care policies.
The deductible amount is based on your age. If you’re 40 or younger, you can deduct up to $370 of your annual premiums for 2014. You can deduct up to $700 if you’re 41 to 50; up to $1,400 if you’re 51 to 60; up to $3,720 if you’re 61 to 70; and up to $4,660 if you’re 71 or older.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
You can also deduct other medical expenses that aren’t reimbursed by insurance -- see IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, for a full list of eligible expenses. Medical expenses are an itemized deduction on Schedule A.
-
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Taxes on Social Security Benefits?Quiz Social Security benefits often come with confusing IRS tax rules that can trip up financially savvy retirees and near-retirees.
-
Are You Ready for 65? The Medicare Initial Enrollment Period QuizQuiz Turning 65 soon? Test your basic knowledge of Medicare's Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) rules in our quick quiz.
-
3 Ways to Stretch the 2026 Social Security COLA For Your BudgetThree steps retirees can take to stretch the Social Security COLA to fit their budgets.
-
New 2026 Tax Change Could Mean More for Your IRA and 401(k) SavingsRetirement Savings Here's how the new IRS inflation adjustments will increase the contribution limits for your 401(k) and IRA in the new year.
-
10 Retirement Tax Plan Moves to Make Before December 31Retirement Taxes Proactively reviewing your health coverage, RMDs and IRAs can lower retirement taxes in 2025 and 2026. Here’s how.
-
Claiming the Standard Deduction? Here Are Five Tax Breaks for Retirement in 2025Tax Tips If you’re retired and filing taxes, these five tax credits and deductions could provide thousands in relief (if you qualify).
-
IRS Names Its First CEO: But He’s Also Still Running Social SecurityTax News Will this new role make it difficult to address emerging issues like budget and staffing cuts and customer service concerns?
-
IRS Phasing Out Paper Checks: What Happens After September 30?Tax Changes Avoid delays when IRS tax refunds and Social Security paper checks are cut off. Here’s what to know.
-
Ask the Editor, September 12: Tax Questions on 529 Plan Rollovers to a Roth IRAAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer four questions from readers on transferring 529 plan money to a Roth IRA.
-
Ask the Editor, August 29: Tax Questions on Estate and Gift TaxesAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer questions from readers on estate and gift taxes.
-
Will You Get a ‘Surprise’ Tax Bill on Your Social Security Benefits in Retirement?Retirement Taxes Social Security benefit payments might land you in hot water when filing 2025 taxes — here are three reasons why.
