As a result of COVID-19, you may be spending a lot more time at home in the foreseeable future making this is an ideal opportunity to file your tax returns. Delta Dental of Arizona wants to remind Arizona residents that if you plan on itemizing your federal deductions, you may be able to deduct dental expenses for yourself, your spouse and your dependents.

According to the IRS, medical and dental care expenses include “payments for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or payments for treatments affecting any structure or function of the body.” This means you could deduct a variety of expenses including preventive dental treatments such as cleanings, sealants and fluoride, along with more extensive treatments to alleviate dental disease, such as fillings, braces and dentures. Travel costs to and from dental appointments like mileage or parking fees may also be deductible. The IRS’ current standard mileage rate for a car when you use it for medical reasons is 17 cents a mile.

Generally, medical expenses exclude the amount you pay for cosmetic procedures or services that do not promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. For a full list of potential write-offs, check out Publication 502 on the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) website.

Before taking a deduction, you need to check your dental and medical expense percentage. Normally, you can only deduct the amount of your medical and dental expenses that are more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. If you have additional questions or want to know if Arizona offers a state income tax deduction for dental expenses, consult your personal tax advisor as this information is general in nature and not intended as a substitute for tax advice.

Please note, the Treasury Department and IRS announced that the federal income tax filing due date is extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.

Author: Mark Anderson, CFO, Delta Dental of Arizona