When children need extra help, parents sometimes count every penny which comes into their Michigan home. Although parents may cringe at the thought of tax season, they may have access to more tax benefits because of their child’s disability. A previous blog discussed earned income tax credit. This week will focus on other kinds of tax benefits.
Parents may sometimes deduct the costs of sending their children to special schools. According to the Journal of Accountancy, these usually fall under medical expenses and can include situations in which a child uses a unique curriculum, learns communication skills such as lip reading or gains the skills needed to keep up in a classroom. Sometimes parents may be able to deduct the cost of a private tutor. Additionally, disabled children can be claimed as dependents if they are completely disabled. In these cases, the usual age restrictions typically do not apply.
Medical expenses are usually deductible. MyChildWithoutLimits.org says that these expenses can include making medically necessary changes to a home and travel to appointments. In some cases, lodging can be a deductible expense if a family needed to travel for medical care. Additionally, the cost of traveling to and attending a medical conference can generally be deducted. If parents hire a caregiver for their child, they may be able to receive a child care credit. Adopting a disabled child can also be a tax deduction. This is sometimes dependent on a family’s income.
Because parents of disabled children can easily acquire many expenses related to the children’s care, it is recommended that parents keep detailed records. This can help them keep track of how much they spent taking a child to appointments, and also serve as a reminder for smaller expenses which might be forgotten. Parents may want to keep these records for up to six years.
