Can I deduct medical expenses if my parents paid them but I'm claiming them as dependents?

You can only deduct medical expenses that YOU actually paid for qualifying individuals (including dependents). The $9,900 you paid directly to their healthcare providers would potentially be deductible on your return. The amounts they paid from their own funds ($8,200 + $5,400) would not be deductible on your tax return, regardless of whether you claim them as dependents. Keep in mind that medical expenses are only deductible if you itemize deductions on Schedule A, and only the portion that exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). So if your AGI is $80,000, you'd need medical expenses over $6,000 before any of them would be deductible. Also, make sure you really can claim them as dependents - they need to meet the qualifying relative tests, including having income below the exemption amount ($5,100 for 2025) and you providing more than half their support.

I went through a similar situation with my mom's medical bills last year and was super confused. What helped me was using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to analyze my situation. I uploaded my parents' medical bills and payment records, and it showed exactly what I could and couldn't deduct. Saved me from making a costly mistake! The tool explained that only the payments I made directly were deductible on my return, but it also helped me find some medical expenses I didn't realize qualified. It analyzed my family situation and confirmed I was correctly claiming my mom as a dependent, which was another concern.

Update on my skepticism about taxr.ai - I ended up giving it a try and was honestly impressed. It correctly identified that I could only deduct the medical expenses I personally paid for my dependents, not what they paid themselves. What really helped was the document analysis feature - I uploaded my mom's medical bills and my bank statements, and it matched up which expenses I could claim. Found about $3,200 in deductible expenses I would have missed! It also flagged that my mom's income was slightly too high for the dependent exemption test, which saved me from a potential audit issue. Sometimes it's worth checking out new tools even when you're doubtful.

If you're having trouble getting clear answers about your medical expense deduction situation, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in the same boat last year with my parents' medical expenses and needed to talk to an actual IRS agent to get a definitive answer. I spent days trying to get through on the IRS phone lines with no luck. Then I found Claimyr, which basically waits on hold with the IRS for you and calls you when an agent is on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The IRS agent I spoke with clarified exactly what medical expenses I could deduct and under what circumstances, which was a huge relief.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it because I was desperate to resolve a medical expense deduction issue similar to the original poster's. I had been trying to reach the IRS for weeks with no success. Used Claimyr yesterday afternoon, and this morning they connected me with an actual IRS agent! The agent confirmed that I can only deduct medical expenses I personally paid for my dependent parent, not what she paid herself. He also explained how to document everything properly to avoid audit issues. Saved me from making a $4,700 mistake on my return. Sometimes I'm happy to be proven wrong!

Something people often overlook - if you paid your parents' medical expenses using a credit card, those count as paid by you in the year you charged them, even if you pay off the credit card the following year. Also, don't forget about mileage for driving them to medical appointments (18 cents per mile for 2025), prescription medications, and even things like home modifications if they're medically necessary (grab bars, ramps, etc). Keep all receipts and documentation showing YOU made the payments, not your parents. The IRS loves to audit medical expense deductions, especially larger ones.

Has anyone used the Medical Expense Statement tool in TurboTax for this? I'm in a similar situation but confused about how to enter my mom's expenses that I paid versus what she paid herself.

Just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in this exact situation last year with my father's medical expenses. Make sure you're tracking not just the obvious medical costs, but also things like: - Medical equipment you bought for them (blood pressure monitors, diabetic supplies, etc.) - Transportation costs to medical appointments (mileage or actual costs) - Prescription glasses and hearing aids - Any dental work you paid for directly I found about $1,800 in additional deductible expenses I almost missed because I was only thinking about hospital and doctor bills. Also, if you're using a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for any of their expenses, those don't count toward your itemized deduction since they're already tax-advantaged. One more tip - if you're close to the 7.5% AGI threshold, consider timing some medical expenses. For example, if you know your parents will need dental work or new glasses, paying for it in December versus January could make the difference in whether you get any deduction at all.