From: Rocklin CA

Dear TaxMama,

My mother recently moved in with me due to her health.

I will be adding on a room that will be hers - can I write off the expenses of this room addition?

Thank you.

Tracy

 

Dear Tracy,

Your are one wonderful, brave, loving kid.

Nothing in the world could induce me to do that. I'd rather work three extra jobs to generate the money to get her in-home care, and to visit her regularly, than to have my mom disrupt the peace and quiet of my home.

I don't really think you'll be able to deduct the cost of adding a room to your house.

The addition isn't really for medical purposes. AND it will add substantially to the value of the house.

However, if your mother has trouble with access and you make the room and the house handicap-accessible, you may be able to deduct the costs of ramps, handholds and other improvements in both the existing house and the new room.

You can find more information here about medical deductibility of capital expenses.

I do wish the cost were deductible. After all, the cost of putting her in a home, where she'd be miserable, is deductible, if she is your dependent. So, why shouldn't the cost of providing her with a home be deducted, at least, say over several years, up to the limit of what it would cost to for a facility?

Just a thought...

Best wishes,
Eva Rosenberg, MBA, EA