Are there any tax geeks out there?
I am having a hard time figuring out how to report something on my 1040. I know, I know, if I follow your advice I do so at my own risk. But I am running out of ideas and need to mail this form ASAP!
Here's the situation. I have health insurance through my primary employer. My share of the premiums is about $53/month, which comes out of my pay pre-tax.
My secondary employer (union job--great benes) also offers me health insurance, but I don't use it, so they reimburse my share of the premiums on the policy I have with my other employer. I submit claim forms. They send me a check.
Now, the premiums are pre-tax, but I'm being reimbursed for them. So that's $630 per year that I'm not being taxed on. Where do I report this on my 1040? I have read IRS pub 502 but they don't seem to address it. Right now, I have it listed on line 21, other income, and I've attached a letter explaining what that other income is. But if I were the IRS, I'd totally audit people who used line 21.
Do you think I'm more likely to get audited if I use line 21?
Do you think line 21 is the right place to put this?
Thanks in advance for your help.
PS. I also received these reimbursements in 2004 and 2005, but I didn't know how to handle it so I just kind of ignored it. If I figure it out for 2006, I'll probably file amended returns for 2004 and 2005 just to be safe. I have a healthy fear of the IRS and its minions.
I am having a hard time figuring out how to report something on my 1040. I know, I know, if I follow your advice I do so at my own risk. But I am running out of ideas and need to mail this form ASAP!
Here's the situation. I have health insurance through my primary employer. My share of the premiums is about $53/month, which comes out of my pay pre-tax.
My secondary employer (union job--great benes) also offers me health insurance, but I don't use it, so they reimburse my share of the premiums on the policy I have with my other employer. I submit claim forms. They send me a check.
Now, the premiums are pre-tax, but I'm being reimbursed for them. So that's $630 per year that I'm not being taxed on. Where do I report this on my 1040? I have read IRS pub 502 but they don't seem to address it. Right now, I have it listed on line 21, other income, and I've attached a letter explaining what that other income is. But if I were the IRS, I'd totally audit people who used line 21.
Do you think I'm more likely to get audited if I use line 21?
Do you think line 21 is the right place to put this?
Thanks in advance for your help.
PS. I also received these reimbursements in 2004 and 2005, but I didn't know how to handle it so I just kind of ignored it. If I figure it out for 2006, I'll probably file amended returns for 2004 and 2005 just to be safe. I have a healthy fear of the IRS and its minions.

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