Standard Deduction or Itemize

[garfunklebaby]

What is the name of your state? Tennessee

My divorce was final in Oct 2007, and I will be filing single this year; however, I have some questions as to whether to claim standard deduction or itemize deductions.

My husband and I shared a checking account; however, the account was more like my individual account since I was the main contributor. I retained the account number after the divorce and removed his name.

All that said, I'm trying to decide what I can itemize and what I can't.

In March of 2007, I paid $5000 for my husband to go to an inpatient addiction facility. Since it was for my husband and not for me, can I claim it as medical expenses since I paid for it? I charged it on my credit card, and then paid that bill out of the checking account described above.

I also paid over $1000 in land and property taxes in Feb 2007 for the house we lived in out of that account, so can I count all of it, or can I claim half?

I'm going to counseling sessions that my insurance does not cover, can I claim that as medical expenses? So far I have spent close to $4000 in session fees.

I also had some dental expenses that I can count toward medical expenses, and I also have about $5000 I can claim in charitable donations.

Again, I'm just trying to figure out what I can claim and what I can't. Should I itemize or should just stick to standardized deductions?

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by garfunklebaby

What is the name of your state? Tennessee

My divorce was final in Oct 2007, and I will be filing single this year; however, I have some questions as to whether to claim standard deduction or itemize deductions.

My husband and I shared a checking account; however, the account was more like my individual account since I was the main contributor. I retained the account number after the divorce and removed his name.

All that said, I'm trying to decide what I can itemize and what I can't.

In March of 2007, I paid $5000 for my husband to go to an inpatient addiction facility. Since it was for my husband and not for me, can I claim it as medical expenses since I paid for it? I charged it on my credit card, and then paid that bill out of the checking account described above.

I also paid over $1000 in land and property taxes in Feb 2007 for the house we lived in out of that account, so can I count all of it, or can I claim half?

I'm going to counseling sessions that my insurance does not cover, can I claim that as medical expenses? So far I have spent close to $4000 in session fees.

I also had some dental expenses that I can count toward medical expenses, and I also have about $5000 I can claim in charitable donations.

Again, I'm just trying to figure out what I can claim and what I can't. Should I itemize or should just stick to standardized deductions?

I don't believe that you can claim your ex husband's medical expenses as he will not be on your return. However, that is something that would warrant some research.

Everything else you can claim, therefore its likely that you do have enough to itemize. You should at least try it. Most software will default to either itemized deductions or the standard deduction, whichever comes out better for you.

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

[url]http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf[/url]

Whose Medical Expenses Can You Include?
You can generally include medical expenses you pay for yourself, as well as those you pay for someone who was your spouse or your dependent either when the services were provided or when you paid for them. There are different rules for decedents and for individuals who are the subject of multiple support agreements.

Spouse
You can include medical expenses you paid for your spouse. To include these expenses, you must have been married either at the time your spouse received the medical services or at the time you paid the medical expenses.

So, if YOU are the one who paid for these bills, then you have a right to pay for them. What contribution did your X make towards these bills, because you cannot claim the part that HE paid.

[garfunklebaby]

GinnyJ, to answer your question, my ex-husband did not pay anything on the $5000 for the treatment facility. He did, however, pay for his individual counseling sessions and two sessions that I attended with him. I am going to claim my own individual sessions since I paid for them.

Thank you, LdiJ and GinnyJ, for your responses.