I just came home from a club meeting. A member does taxes for AARP and he told us that new this year our real estate taxes are a deduction. I am no expert=just sharing what he said.
Our attorney has always deducted them, both on our home and our rental property but if this guy does tax returns, maybe there has been something new added that we need to check out.
I also prepare income taxes for AARP. What your friend was talking about is a maximum deduction of $500 filing single or $1,000 filing jointly for taxpayers that DO NOT itemize. (Property taxes have always been deductible for itemized deductions) Even if you do not itemize, enter your property taxes paid in 2008 on line 6 of Schedule A. Either your property taxes in their entirety or the above maximums whichever is smaller, is added to your standard deduction on line 40, page 2 of form 1040. DickS
DickS- Just the man I need to ask a question about a elderly parent exemption. My Mother, with less than 5,000 lived with us in 1908 from Jan. 1 until her death May 21. We paid all her expenses except what her $400. a month SS paid her. Can we claim her as an exemption?
She actually lived with us for 9 years prior but had too much money to qualify.
I need advice - according to the IRS, I can claim the caregiver salary I pay out for my husband. I also am paying room and board, plus cash. I was wondering if I could claim the transportation cost to get him here. Do any of you know if I can do that?
Imohr, There are several conditions that a person has to achieve to be a qualifying relative, one of them being "Gross Income Test". If her income was less $3,500, you can claim her......if more you cannot. You also must provide more than half of her support, which you indicated you did. DickS
"I was wondering if I could claim the transportation cost to get him here."
Mary.... By that statement do you mean that you transport your husband on a regular basis to a care facility or day care center? Or do you mean he is in a facility and you visit him there on a regular basis. I need a little more information before I can try and help with your question. DickS
My husband attends an adult daycare facility and they provide transportation. However, several times a week it is more convenient if I pick him up. Can I claim mileage for that as a deduction? Thanks.