A bill for an act relating to the deduction of nursing facility expenses for purposes of the individual income tax, and including retroactive applicability provisions.
If enacted, SF402 would have significant implications for state tax law, particularly by introducing a new category of deductions specifically related to nursing facility expenses. The retroactive applicability of the bill, which extends back to January 1, 2025, means that taxpayers could potentially benefit from past expenses they incurred for such healthcare services, thereby increasing the incentive for utilizing nursing facilities for long-term care.
Senate File 402 (SF402) is a legislative proposal aimed at providing individual income taxpayers in Iowa the ability to deduct expenses paid to licensed nursing facilities for health-related care and services. The bill defines 'nursing facility' as per state code chapter 135C and establishes a framework under which costs incurred for such care can be subtracted from taxable income, as long as they are not already deducted for federal purposes. This provision is designed to ease the financial burden on families who invest in nursing care for their loved ones.
While the bill is framed positively for taxpayers needing to manage healthcare costs, it is essential to consider that some stakeholders may raise concerns regarding the budgetary implications for the state. Should an increasing number of taxpayers utilize this deduction, it may result in a sizeable reduction in state revenue. Opponents might argue that such deductions could disproportionately favor higher-income individuals who can afford nursing facility expenses, thus raising equity issues within the tax system.