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February 15, 2021
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If I have dental and vision that I pay for in box 14 on my W4 and it states pre tax... what does that mean? Do I still enter the number and label it as medical expenses?

  • February 15, 2021
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Best answer by ToddL99

Since you are paying for your dental and vision coverage with pre-tax dollars, you cannot claim the costs as deductible medical expenses.

 

"Pre-tax" means your employer paid the premiums with money you earned, but  didn't have to pay income tax on - those earnings were not included in Box 1 (Wages) of your W-2.

 

Allowing you to deduct the costs from your taxable income, when the money used was never included in your taxable income would be a "double - benefit", not allowed  by the IRS.

1 reply

ToddL99Answer
February 15, 2021

Since you are paying for your dental and vision coverage with pre-tax dollars, you cannot claim the costs as deductible medical expenses.

 

"Pre-tax" means your employer paid the premiums with money you earned, but  didn't have to pay income tax on - those earnings were not included in Box 1 (Wages) of your W-2.

 

Allowing you to deduct the costs from your taxable income, when the money used was never included in your taxable income would be a "double - benefit", not allowed  by the IRS.

February 3, 2025

Does this mean this amount (K) needs to be added as income on the form 1040?

February 3, 2025

No, the amount is only a reporting number for you pre-taxed medical and dental expenses during the year.  It will not be used when calculating your taxable income.  

 

@ja4vets 

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