Expenses abroad to claim Tax refund

[happywifeymom 4]

Hello Vj'ers,

I would like to ask any ideas from you since I don;t know if it is okey or not to do this.

I gave birth in the Philippines 6 months ago and had spent more than $5K for everything inluding Tickets, doctors, hospital (CS in a n expensive private hospital)medicines ,CRBA process , etc, etc.

We are ready to file for our Income Tax. Can i include all my expenses mentioned above to claim more tax refund?I have alll the receipts for everything as evidence.

I am not really sure if this is a good idea. Pls any advice would be a big help. Thanks so much in advance.

[payxibka 10,047]

Hello Vj'ers,

I would like to ask any ideas from you since I don;t know if it is okey or not to do this.

I gave birth in the Philippines 6 months ago and had spent more than $5K for everything inluding Tickets, doctors, hospital (CS in a n expensive private hospital)medicines ,CRBA process , etc, etc.

We are ready to file for our Income Tax. Can i include all my expenses mentioned above to claim more tax refund?I have alll the receipts for everything as evidence.

I am not really sure if this is a good idea. Pls any advice would be a big help. Thanks so much in advance.

Tickets for what? In addition, medical expenses are subject to a 7.5% AGI floor... You could deduct true medical expenses but tickets to move to the USA or go to the PI are not medical expenses.

Edited February 3, 2009 by payxibka

[happywifeymom 4]

Hello Vj'ers,

I would like to ask any ideas from you since I don;t know if it is okey or not to do this.

I gave birth in the Philippines 6 months ago and had spent more than $5K for everything inluding Tickets, doctors, hospital (CS in a n expensive private hospital)medicines ,CRBA process , etc, etc.

We are ready to file for our Income Tax. Can i include all my expenses mentioned above to claim more tax refund?I have alll the receipts for everything as evidence.

I am not really sure if this is a good idea. Pls any advice would be a big help. Thanks so much in advance.

Tickets for what? In addition, medical expenses are subject to a 7.5% AGI floor... You could deduct true medical expenses but tickets to move to the USA or go to the PI are not medical expenses.

I mean ticket going to Philippines and back here since the very main reason i went home was solely to give birth there.It was stated in my travel that reason for going home is to give birth there.

[happywifeymom 4]

Hello Vj'ers,

I would like to ask any ideas from you since I don;t know if it is okey or not to do this.

I gave birth in the Philippines 6 months ago and had spent more than $5K for everything inluding Tickets, doctors, hospital (CS in a n expensive private hospital)medicines ,CRBA process , etc, etc.

We are ready to file for our Income Tax. Can i include all my expenses mentioned above to claim more tax refund?I have alll the receipts for everything as evidence.

I am not really sure if this is a good idea. Pls any advice would be a big help. Thanks so much in advance.

Tickets for what? In addition, medical expenses are subject to a 7.5% AGI floor... You could deduct true medical expenses but tickets to move to the USA or go to the PI are not medical expenses.

I mean ticket going to Philippines and back here since the very main reason i went home was solely to give birth there.It was stated in my travel that reason for going home is to give birth there.

pls..any more ideas..thanks in advance

[payxibka 10,047]

You cannot include in medical expenses the cost of transportation for travel for purely personal reasons to another city for an operation or other medical care.

In other words, transportation would be deductible if and only if the care was not available locally. I gotta believe you would be hard pressed in explaining a lack of local care in your decision to have the child in PI rather than where you currently live.

In the end it is all deductible until such time as the IRS reviews the return.

Edited February 3, 2009 by payxibka

[happywifeymom 4]

You cannot include in medical expenses the cost of transportation for travel for purely personal reasons to another city for an operation or other medical care.

In other words, transportation would be deductible if and only if the care was not available locally. I gotta believe you would be hard pressed in explaining a lack of local care in your decision to have the child in PI rather than where you currently live.

In the end it is all deductible until such time as the IRS reviews the return.

Yup ..now i understand what you said,was asking if the medical expenses alone that is more than 3k can be included to get more refund ..there is no harm in trying . Looks like not many people here knows the answer to this question but i really appreciate you for taking your time to answer me.

[Minya's wife 25]

Hello Vj'ers,

I would like to ask any ideas from you since I don;t know if it is okey or not to do this.

I gave birth in the Philippines 6 months ago and had spent more than $5K for everything inluding Tickets, doctors, hospital (CS in a n expensive private hospital)medicines ,CRBA process , etc, etc.

We are ready to file for our Income Tax. Can i include all my expenses mentioned above to claim more tax refund?I have alll the receipts for everything as evidence.

I am not really sure if this is a good idea. Pls any advice would be a big help. Thanks so much in advance.

Tickets for what? In addition, medical expenses are subject to a 7.5% AGI floor... You could deduct true medical expenses but tickets to move to the USA or go to the PI are not medical expenses.

I mean ticket going to Philippines and back here since the very main reason i went home was solely to give birth there.It was stated in my travel that reason for going home is to give birth there.

Let me understand this correctly...you left the US to give birth(i.e. incur medical expenses) in another country, but now you want to use the $$$ you spent in doing that to claim a refund from the US government??? Why do you think you're entitled to tax money back from the US government for this?

-P

[payxibka 10,047]

Hello Vj'ers,

I would like to ask any ideas from you since I don;t know if it is okey or not to do this.

I gave birth in the Philippines 6 months ago and had spent more than $5K for everything inluding Tickets, doctors, hospital (CS in a n expensive private hospital)medicines ,CRBA process , etc, etc.

We are ready to file for our Income Tax. Can i include all my expenses mentioned above to claim more tax refund?I have alll the receipts for everything as evidence.

I am not really sure if this is a good idea. Pls any advice would be a big help. Thanks so much in advance.

Tickets for what? In addition, medical expenses are subject to a 7.5% AGI floor... You could deduct true medical expenses but tickets to move to the USA or go to the PI are not medical expenses.

I mean ticket going to Philippines and back here since the very main reason i went home was solely to give birth there.It was stated in my travel that reason for going home is to give birth there.

Let me understand this correctly...you left the US to give birth(i.e. incur medical expenses) in another country, but now you want to use the $$$ you spent in doing that to claim a refund from the US government??? Why do you think you're entitled to tax money back from the US government for this?

-P

The US government taxes a US citizen's WORLWIDE income.... Why is it any different on the other side of the ledger? There are of course exclusions and limitations, but if it is a qualified expense, it is a qualified expense..... That is simplywhat the OP is trying to do, is to determine what if anything they have expended would be considered a qualifying expense.

Edited February 3, 2009 by payxibka

[happywifeymom 4]

Hello Vj'ers,

I would like to ask any ideas from you since I don;t know if it is okey or not to do this.

I gave birth in the Philippines 6 months ago and had spent more than $5K for everything inluding Tickets, doctors, hospital (CS in a n expensive private hospital)medicines ,CRBA process , etc, etc.

We are ready to file for our Income Tax. Can i include all my expenses mentioned above to claim more tax refund?I have alll the receipts for everything as evidence.

I am not really sure if this is a good idea. Pls any advice would be a big help. Thanks so much in advance.

Tickets for what? In addition, medical expenses are subject to a 7.5% AGI floor... You could deduct true medical expenses but tickets to move to the USA or go to the PI are not medical expenses.

I mean ticket going to Philippines and back here since the very main reason i went home was solely to give birth there.It was stated in my travel that reason for going home is to give birth there.

Let me understand this correctly...you left the US to give birth(i.e. incur medical expenses) in another country, but now you want to use the $$$ you spent in doing that to claim a refund from the US government??? Why do you think you're entitled to tax money back from the US government for this?

-P

The US government taxes a US citizen's WORLWIDE income.... Why is it any different on the other side of the ledger? There are of course exclusions and limitations, but if it is a qualified expense, it is a qualified expense..... That is simplywhat the OP is trying to do, is to determine what if anything they have expended would be considered a qualifying expense.

Yes you understand my concern Payxibka. I really am still confused but thank you anyway for the replies.

[payxibka 10,047]

Yes you understand my concern Payxibka. I really am still confused but thank you anyway for the replies.

There is no confusion... true medical expenses you can deduct... travel expenses to and back from the PI you cannot

[happywifeymom 4]

Yes you understand my concern Payxibka. I really am still confused but thank you anyway for the replies.

There is no confusion... true medical expenses you can deduct... travel expenses to and back from the PI you cannot

Got it. Yes i am hoping that all the medical expenses will be qualified,,, not talking about any other expenses anymore..lol..THANKS A LOT.

[Jasman0717 9]

For medical deductions I believe the amounts have to be more than a specific amount of your income, something like 5 or 10 percent.

[payxibka 10,047]

For medical deductions I believe the amounts have to be more than a specific amount of your income, something like 5 or 10 percent.

7.5% AGI

[john_and_marlene 162]

Yes you understand my concern Payxibka. I really am still confused but thank you anyway for the replies.

There is no confusion... true medical expenses you can deduct... travel expenses to and back from the PI you cannot

Why not the travel expenses? IRS pub 502 states "You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for transportation to another city if the trip is primarily for, and essential to, receiving medical services." It does also, however, state that if you choose to "Travel for purely personal reasons to another city for an operation or other medical care" then the travel is not allowed.

It may come down to why she went to the Philippines to give birth. If it was because of the lack of medical insurance here and it was to reduce the cost, then perhaps it would be allowed. But, if she went out of a personal preference to give birth in the Philippines, it would not be allowed. Perhaps a CPA familiar with the travel deductions for medical reasons should be consulted.

Depending on the income level, none of this may be worth the trouble since only the amount exceeding 7.5% AGI is deductible.

[Donald-n-Analyn 6]

You cannot include in medical expenses the cost of transportation for travel for purely personal reasons to another city for an operation or other medical care.

In other words, transportation would be deductible if and only if the care was not available locally. I gotta believe you would be hard pressed in explaining a lack of local care in your decision to have the child in PI rather than where you currently live.

In the end it is all deductible until such time as the IRS reviews the return.

Yup ..now i understand what you said,was asking if the medical expenses alone that is more than 3k can be included to get more refund ..there is no harm in trying . Looks like not many people here knows the answer to this question but i really appreciate you for taking your time to answer me.

Gee, a LOT of the money we all spend goes out of the country. Does this mean that none of it can apply towards tax deductions? This is going to make taxes very messy. I had better just stick to the standard deduction because I have no way to tell how much of the money I spend will go overseas!

What a silly and protectionist statement that was. It's a global freaking economy.