Medicare Blog

how does medicare affect my federal income tax

by Unique Turcotte Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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If your income means you’re subject to the Additional Medicare Tax, your Medicare tax rate is 2.35%. However, this Medicare surtax only applies to your income in excess of $200,000. If you make $250,000 a year, you’ll pay a 1.45% Medicare tax on the first $200,000, and 2.35% on the remaining $50,000.

Medicare premium deductions are for your income taxes (federal, state, and local). They do not impact your self-employment taxes, which include taxes to fund the Medicare and Social Security programs. So you'll still pay the same amount in self-employment taxes, regardless of whether you deduct your Medicare premiums.

Full Answer

Does my income affect my Medicare premiums?

However, your income can impact how much you pay for coverage. If you make a higher income, you’ll pay more for your premiums, even though your Medicare benefits won’t change. On the other hand, you might be eligible for assistance paying your premiums if you have a limited income. How will my income affect my Medicare premiums?

How did tax reform affect Medicare tax treatment?

While the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) did repeal the individual health coverage mandate under the Affordable Care Act, it left in place the 0.9% Additional Medicare tax on high-income individuals. The takeaway here is that there were no changes to the tax treatment of Medicare benefits or rules due to tax reform.

Are Medicare benefits taxable?

Basic Medicare benefits under part A (hospital benefits) are not taxable. Supplementary Medicare benefits under part B (coverage of doctors’ services and other items) are not taxable unless the premiums were previously deducted. That being said, social security benefits used to purchase Medicare Part B remain taxable.

How much did the ACA increase the Medicare tax?

The ACA increased the Medicare tax by an additional 0.9% for taxpayers whose incomes are over a certain threshold based on their filing status. Those affected pay a total Medicare tax of 3.8%.

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Do Part B Medicare premiums reduce your Social Security income as far as income tax?

Yes. In fact, if you are signed up for both Social Security and Medicare Part B — the portion of Medicare that provides standard health insurance — the Social Security Administration will automatically deduct the premium from your monthly benefit.

Can I claim Medicare on my tax return?

You can combine premiums for Medicare health insurance with other qualifying medical expenses for purposes of claiming an itemized deduction for medical expenses on your tax return. This includes amounts for “Medigap” insurance and Medicare Advantage plans.

Do Medicare premiums reduce taxable income?

Do Medicare premiums reduce taxable income? You can deduct your Medicare and Medigap premiums from your taxes as a below-the-line deduction. This requires you to itemize the premiums. If they, along with your other medical costs, exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), you qualify for the deduction.

Can I deduct Social Security and Medicare taxes?

The federal tax code does allow you to deduct some taxes when you file your federal tax return, such as state and local income or sales taxes, real estate taxes and property taxes, but there isn't a deduction for Social Security taxes or Medicare taxes.

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