How can I claim my medical expenses for tax purposes?
January 23, 2024 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Wolfgang Stricker
Dear tax consultant,
My name is Emma Weiß and I have a question regarding the tax deductibility of my medical expenses. This year, I have unfortunately had several medical treatments and had to purchase some medications that were not covered by my health insurance. As a result, my expenses for healthcare services have increased significantly.
I am concerned that I may not have correctly reported all costs in my tax return, potentially losing money that rightfully belongs to me. I would like to know which medical expenses are deductible for tax purposes and how best to report them in my tax return to maximize tax benefits.
Could you please explain to me in detail which type of medical expenses are deductible and how I should keep and present the corresponding receipts and invoices correctly? Are there specific limits or flat rates that I need to consider? Are there also costs that are non-deductible?
I would greatly appreciate your help in correctly reporting my medical expenses in my tax return and providing me with tips on how to reduce my tax burden through deductibility of healthcare services.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Emma Weiß
Dear Mrs. Weiß,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the tax deductibility of medical expenses. It is understandable that you are concerned about whether you have correctly reported all costs in your tax return and may be missing out on tax benefits. I am happy to explain to you which medical expenses are tax deductible and how you should best report them in your tax return.
In general, you can claim both the costs of medically necessary treatments and medications that were not covered by your health insurance for tax purposes. This includes, for example, doctor's fees, hospital stays, physiotherapy, dental treatments, alternative medicine services, as well as medications and aids such as glasses or hearing aids. Additionally, travel expenses to medical appointments or therapies may be deductible under certain conditions.
To report the costs in your tax return, you should collect and keep all receipts and invoices. Make sure that the invoices are issued in your name and contain all necessary information, such as the service provider, the date of the service, the type of service, and the amount. For travel expenses, you should keep a logbook or retain receipts from public transportation.
There are no fixed maximum limits or flat rates for deductible medical expenses. You can generally report all costs that have arisen in connection with your illness. However, note that you can only deduct costs that are not reimbursed by your health insurance.
Non-deductible expenses include, for example, cosmetic surgeries, wellness treatments, or non-prescription medications. Costs for purely preventive measures are also usually not deductible.
To reduce your tax burden through the deductibility of health services, it is important to fully and correctly report all relevant costs in your tax return. This way, you can ensure that you are taking advantage of all the tax benefits available to you.
I hope my explanations have been helpful to you. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Kind regards,
Wolfgang Stricker
Tax Advisor
