Did you have to pay a large medical bill for your dependent? Â Perhaps you modified a van for a disabled parent, or paid nursing home fees for your aunt?
In the past, you were limited to claiming only $10,000 in medical expenses for adult dependents. Â That limit has been lifted beginning in tax year 2011.
Filed under: Personal Tax by David Boese No Comments »Don’t forget that you can claim your medical insurance premiums as a medical expense. Â If you pay into a medical plan at work, be sure to get the total amount that you paid in during the year. Â Contrary to popular opinion, this amount if NOT always on your T4 slip. Â It might be, depending on your employer, but it is not a government requirement to have it on there. Â If it isn’t, simply save your last pay stub from the year, and keep it with your tax papers.
Remember too, that it is only the medical and dental insurance premiums that you can claim. Â You can’t claim the life insurance premiums. Â Sometimes you might pay into a plan that is comprehensive of medical, dental, life etc. Â If this happens you have to ask your employer for a breakdown of what is just for medical and dental.
Filed under: Personal Tax by David Boese No Comments »If you need to travel more than 40 kms one way to obtain medical services, and those services are not available closer to your home, you are allowed to claim your travel costs as a medical expense. Â The Canada Revenue Agency allows you to claim a simplified, cents per kilometre travel rate. Â Each year they announce the mileage rates for the different provinces.
If you need to travel more than 80 kms, you can also claim a meal at a flat rate of $17.00/meal, no receipts needed.
For 2009, the mileage rates can be found at:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns248-260/255/rts-eng.html
