Deducting Uncovered Dental Expenses on Taxes?

The items you mentioned are allowable medical deductions as long as they were paid with after tax dollars. In addition you can deduct the after cost of medical, dental and other health insurance as well as .20 cents per mile for driving to and from the doctor. Also the cost of parking to visit a doctor is a deductible medical cost.

Yes, the items you mention qualify as medical expenses. But you can only deduct them if you itemize. Even then, you have to subtract 7.5% of your adjusted gross income from your total med and dental expenses, and can only deduct what's over that. So many people are not really able to deduct the expenses, and you definitely don't get to deduct all of them because of the 7.5% subtraction.

Here's the problem.

If you and your husband have an income of $30,000, the first $2250 of medical expenses are disregarded. Only expenses ABOVE the 7.5% will increase your itemized deductions and if you don't already itemize, you won't get a benefit.

70% of taxpayers to not itemize.

in case you paid for the dental expenses in 2008, then they could't be claimed on your 2009 return. in case you paid for them in 2009, then they could be claimed on your 2009 return. you're able to be able to purely declare the exemption for the 12 months in which you paid for the centers. in case you had dental expenses for 2008, you probably did no longer declare them, and you itemized deductions, you could amend your 2008 return applying type 1040X. you're able to have till April 15, 2012 to report your modification and get any added refund to which you're entitled.

Just do it. If they ask you, refer them to Topic 502 and point out that it says "yes."