Arthur L. Rubin wrote:

- quote -

I misread the question. Please disregard my answer, and
refer to the excellent answers of Arthur Kamlet, John
Fisher, and Paul "taxman" Thomas.

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"Silent Warrior" <akido3[at]comcast.net> wrote:

- quote -

Yes, to the extent that the purchase price is greater than a
non-modified van. Maintenance of the van is also deductible.
See IRS Pub 502 for details.

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"Silent Warrior" <akido3[at]comcast.net> wrote:

- quote -

My understanding is that to the extent that the
modifications do not increase the value of the vehicle, the
modifications would be deductible medical expense (subject
to the restrictions of medical deductions) but not the basic
cost of the van.

Beth

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Silent Warrior wrote:

- quote -

Yes. Of course, if he's a dependent, then YOU have to
purchase the wheelchair for it to count.

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Silent Warrior <akido3[at]comcast.net> wrote:

- quote -

Assuming he is your dependent for medical purposes, the
additional cost of the special equipment, compared with the
van without the equipment, is deductible on Schedule A Line
1, along with your other medical expenses. See IRS
Publication 502.

__
Art Kamlet ArtKamlet [at] AOL.com Columbus OH K2PZH

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"Silent Warrior" <akido3[at]comcast.net> writes:

- quote -

You can include in medical expenses the difference between
the cost of a regular car and a car specially designed to
hold a wheelchair.

You cannot deduct the cost of operating a specially equipped
car, except that:

You can include in medical expenses amounts paid for
transportation primarily for, and essential to, medical
care.

You can include out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of
gas and oil, when you use a car for medical reasons. You
cannot include depreciation, insurance, general repair, or
maintenance expenses.

If you do not want to use your actual expenses, for 2003 you
can use a standard rate of 12 cents a mile for use of a car
for medical reasons.

You can also include parking fees and tolls. You can add
these fees and tolls to your medical expenses whether you
use actual expenses or use the standard mileage rate.

Example.
Bill Jones drove 2,800 miles for medical reasons during the
year. He spent $200 for gas, $5 for oil, and $50 for tolls
and parking. He wants to figure the amount he can include in
medical expenses both ways to see which gives him the
greater deduction.

He figures the actual expenses first. He adds the $200 for
gas, the $5 for oil, and the $50 for tolls and parking for a
total of $255.

He then figures the standard mileage amount. He multiplies
the 2,800 miles by 12 cents a mile for a total of $336. He
then adds the $50 tolls and parking for a total of $386.

Bill includes the $386 of car expenses with his other
medical expenses for the year because the $386 is more than
the $255 he figured using actual expenses.

Hope this helps 'n'

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!=

"Jack" - John H. Fisher - TaxService[at]aol.com
Philadelphia, Pa - Atlantic City, NJ - West Wildwood, NJ
My Newsgroups & Boards at: http://members.aol.com/TaxService/index.html

Where Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise!=

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"Silent Warrior" <akido3[at]comcast.net> wrote

- quote -

Not the entire van cost, but the additional costs for the
conversion to handicapped capabilities (ie: a chair lift).

So if the van without the handicap accessories ells for
$25,000 and it has $10,000 of handicap accessories, then
only the $10,000 is considered a medical expense.

--
Paul A. Thomas, CPA
taxman at negia.net

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My 16 year old son is confined to a wheelchair. Would the
purchase of a wheelchair van be deductible as a medical
expense?

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