I'm hoping the moderators will please allow this post to stay in 'Medical Questions" because it can be of huge financial benefit for a lot of us. And with it being tax season, I just had to share this news. Wow!
My doctor told me you can deduct supplements, etc. if you purchase them from a doctor's office. To double check, I asked my accountant, he said no. Well, guess what? It looks like he is wrong. I went to the government site and this is what I found:
Nutritional Supplements
You cannot include in medical expenses the cost of nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal supplements, "natural medicines", etc. unless they are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition diagnosed by a physician. Otherwise, these items are taken to maintain your ordinary good health, and are not for medical care.
For me, to play it safe, I will only deduct those supps that I actually purchased for the doctor's office. I'm tempted to add up my vitacost and iherb receipts also, but it may be hard to prove which ones were doctor-recommended for my "condition".
(Edited 2-21-13....this year I did add in some supps from Vitacost and iherb since they were doctor recommended.)
Anyway, happy tabulating!
Tammy
[ 02-21-2013, 08:59 PM: Message edited by: Tammy N. ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- You can also deduct fees to LLMDs, NDs, Acupuncturists, too - if for a medical condition (does not matter WHAT and that should not be needed).
Travel costs and lodging to out of town appointments, too.
For those who need a tax prep professional, you might ask for referrals from you area lyme support groups. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
You would also need a script from the doctor for any supps you deduct.
Posted by TxCoord (Member # 9204) on :
The difficult part is if you file short form you can't deduct, and if you don't have enough deductions it does no good. I wish it would be right off the top along with non-profit donations.
Posted by SoOverIt (Member # 31168) on :
You do not need a script from your Dr. AS LONG as it is recorded in your medical history/notes that he/she wants you on these supplements for your condition.
Take it from someone that had worked for an accountant doing taxes for 10 years.
Posted by gmb (Member # 23562) on :
You need well over $3000 in medical costs to make any impact to your refund. Anything less it's not worth the time.
gmb
Posted by LymeLogged (Member # 36494) on :
In 2010 I had $35,000 in deductable medical expenses. I included all supplements, milage, tolls, infrared sauna, everything.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
$3000 is a drop in the bucket with this disease!
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Things you cannot deduct:
Over-the-counter medications (such as Benadryl).
Medications purchased from outside the US, such as medications purchased from a Canadian pharmacy/website.
Amounts over $50 per person per night for hotel bills spent while travelling for medical purposes.
Amounts reimbursed by insurance or other parties.
Health insurance premiums, unless you are self-employed (special forms & rules for this) or you do not have insurance through an employer.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
We deducted our insurance premiums for last year. Our tax guy told us we could.
I hope we don't get audited Posted by aMomWithHope (Member # 19255) on :
If the infrared can be deducted.......Hmmm?.......I wonder if the Bionic or PE1 can be deducted? Probably only with a doctor's note--now where to find a doctor who will prescribe it?
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Before you can deduct, you have to first calculate what 7.5% of your adjust gross income would be. Up to this amount you CANNOT deduct. But anything over and above that amount is what you CAN deduct.
And don't forget mileage. For 2011, this is the breakdown: Jan to June - .19 per mile July - Dec - 23.5 per mile
I was told you can deduct insurance premiums. I wonder though if it can be on the first page, or if it needs to be on the schedule. I've received conflicting answers from 2 of our past accountants. Our previous guy said it must be on the schedule. But last year our accountant took the premiums on page 1, then the other out of pockets on the schedule. Hope this was okay. Anyone know about this for sure?
Posted by CountryMouse (Member # 32073) on :
You can deduct health insurance premiums IF you do not pay for them pre-tax!!!
Posted by marypart (Member # 27012) on :
You can deduct supplements that have been recommended by a doctor for a specific condition.
Our doctor writes all her recommendations in her patient instructions, which are her chart pages, and she gives us a copy. I keep all receipts for the supps and the copies of the instructions.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by CountryMouse: You can deduct health insurance premiums IF you do not pay for them pre-tax!!!
- Absolutely.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Up.... for others to see.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Up.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
I know nothing about how to prepare taxes, but may I suggest you make a list of what you are taking and for what condition and give it to your doctor for your chart.
They should have it anyway for medical reasons, but if they don't, this might be a help for tax purposes?
Posted by MichaelTampa (Member # 24868) on :
A couple of my docs, when we have appointments, list on a paper kind of follow-up topics / conclusions to the visit. This includes listing tests/treatments he recommends, drugs he is going to write a script for, and supplements he recommends. I use that as documentation that he has recommended it.
I have also heard acupuncturists say it is deductible if you buy it from them, and they have probably been told that is a reasonable safe harbor, and that is all they have in their experience. But clearly the IRS publication does not say you have to buy it from the doc, and really why would/should the IRS care who you are buying it from. It's just that if the doc is selling it to you, it looks a lot more clear that they are recommending it. Still, note that according to the IRS, it has to be as treatment for a medical condition (shouldn't just be, hey, I'm healthy and want to stay healthy, and these are good vitamins to help me do that).
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Up.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Up... for you last-minute folks:)
Posted by Milagro (Member # 37023) on :
I deduct everything... Let them audit me...
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
My CPA said it is legal as of 2011 to use letterhead from the doctor with the list of supplements they are recommending. I get reimbursed from our medical spending account while it lasts, but it is always gone by March.
For last year, I deducted all prescribed supplements and I have receipts and the doctor's letter head. If they audit, I have followed the rules and it saved me on my taxes big time.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
I just learned about this this year. I'm annoyed I lost out on all of the past years....tens of thousands of dollars that could have been written off. Oh well.... glad to know now.
I will post about this again next year at tax time for those who don't know.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
I wanted to bump this up since we are in the middle of tax season.
Like last year, I hope the moderators will allow this to stay here.....since more people will get to see it and hopeful benefit financially.
I wish I knew this years ago.
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
You can file an amended return if it looks like it would be worthwhile for a past year. There is a time limit, so check it out.
I am glad this post came back. I think I can do this. If I have the stmina, I dan probably do an amended formlast year also.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
My accountant said to have the doctor write all the supplements on letterhead and sign it for taxes. Better to be safe than sorry.
I do not buy the supplements from my doctor's office.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Yes, faithful, that's a great idea to cover your bases.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
up
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
We file separately as my income is so little and I pay for all the abx orals and Iv along with supplements. I pass the percentages easily. Hubby makes too much income to use the percentages for claiming supplements.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Yes, in order to deduct for out of pocket medical expenses, you first have to deduct for 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Anything above that amount is deductible.
My out of pockets are so high that I still usually have something I can deduct. I wish they would eliminate that 7.5% rule. That would make a big difference for most people.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
For 2012 taxes filed this year, it is still 7.5% AGI, but this will go up to 10% for taxes filed next year.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Oh Pooh!! Grrrr.... Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
up
Posted by jjeennnniiee (Member # 7964) on :
Does anyone know how buying doctor recommended ensure for digestive and malnutrition/malabsorption problems would apply toward counting as medical expenses, to reduce the rent I have to pay monthly, as far as living in HUD housing is concerned?
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
up
jjee - sorry I don"t know the answer to that one.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
up - for those who haven't done their taxes yet.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
up
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
thx for this thread!
Do you happen to know what you can deduct per mile for doc visits and also for hotel stays?
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
This year it was .23 per mile. And don't forget tolls receipts, if you have them.
I don't remember amount for hotel. (In the past, I just listed the entire amount....before I realized there was a limit.)
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
OK thx. I will have hubby double-check things with the accountant. Obviously we are filing an extension! I just want to make sure we are capturing all the expenses accurately. It sure does add up.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
With all office visit copays, hospital copays, drug copays, supplements and all I IV meds and supplies for two people, we claimed over 19K this year on our taxes. We did not claim mileage to and from the doctor's office but you can.
We were not that organized to keep track of that.
Posted by maps (Member # 19758) on :
I submitted medical and supplements for 2010 and did not have enough income to benefit and so i sent an adjustment to change it to 2011.
I also enclosed the letter from my LLMD with the list of supplements and just to make sure my chronic fatigue doctor also added a letter stating the supplements were necessary for my treatment.
The supplements were accepted. This is in Canada though.
Posted by maps (Member # 19758) on :
Oh, and thank you for starting this thread, extremely helpful
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