In article <Dwxfk.17907$Ri.4491[at]flpi146.ffdc.sbc.com> ,
Mark Bole <makbo[at]pacbell.net> wrote:
- quote -


The rule is every allowed medical expense you paid for yourself,
your spouse or your medical dependent is deductible.


So it becomes second nature to pay everyhing out of a joint acount,
and then decide later who claims the deduction.

If you pay out of a separate account, it can still be done, using the
unlimited gifts between spouses rule -- that is, each spouse can
give unlimited gifts to the other, at any time, as often as desired.

Best, of course, is to pay from a joint account and worry about the
division between spouses filing MFS later.

Only when there is no agreement, does it really matter.

And of course in Ohio where filing MFS is just a natural way of life,
the split can often work to save federal tax as well as Ohio tax.
--


ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH

--
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Arthur Kamlet wrote:

- quote -

All it takes is agreement? So for example if I pay $20K medical
expenses for myself out of my own funds, my spouse filing separately can
claim the $20K on Schedule A if I agree not to claim? Do some states
have laws that affect this at the federal level?

There is even a statement "Neither spouse may report the total casualty
loss", for a casualty loss deduction. What if they agree on division of
100/0, does that over-ride the IRS instructions?

I only ask because this is the second time in my recent memory that
someone with more experience than I has stated that in non-community
property states, division of income (first time) / deductions (second
time) is arbitrary if the two spouses agree. For example, interest on a
joint tenant savings account can be arbitrarily split, regardless of who
the money belongs to.

It seems to be at odds with the table in Pub 504, what am I missing?

-Mark Bole

--
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In article <aT2fk.29565$co7.26264[at]nlpi066.nbdc.sbc.com> ,
Mark Bole <makbo[at]pacbell.net> wrote:
- quote -


If you're not in a community property state and if you agree on
a division other than 50/50, or other than your actual payments,
then split according to that division.
--


ArtKamlet at a o l dot c o m Columbus OH K2PZH

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

geetha wrote:

- quote -


Start with Table 1 in IRS Pub 504, available on line at the IRS web
site. If you live in one of the community property states, the rules
are different, you might also want to consult Pub 555 in this case.

-Mark Bole

--
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-----
My spouse and I are filing separate returns. How can we split our itemized
deductions?


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<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >