Sorry for the technical question. Most days we Lymies - me, anyway - can't even make cereal, let alone read tax code!!!
My accountant is unable to speak to this. Does anyone know what the rules are?
It seems like "prescribed" medications are deductible, and treatments used to treat a specific diagnosis are deductible. Is it as simple as that? Does anyone have a reference to fed tax code?
Thanks!!!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Yes. I'll be back with detail. NDs and acupuncturists.
And, some supplements are IF prescribed for a specific medical condition. Basic vitamins would not be. If a person is deficient in one, that would be.
Back in a little while. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- As you are on the west coast, all three states do license naturopathic doctors.
Much may depend on the state in which you live. Naturopathic doctors are licensed on some states but not others. In some states, NDs are under the umbrella of an MD, so for this purpose, they still count as the "a medical practitioner" on page 17.
I assume, they mean someone licensed in your state, though that may not be the case (if you live in a state where NDs are not able to be fully licensed to treat).
Be aware, though, that - with the "they" being supplements:
"UNLESS
they are recommended by
a medical practitioner"
for a specific medical condition
well, that "medical practitioner" can very well by your MD, LLMD, too. It need not be a ND RECOMMENDING it.
It need not be officially prescribed but some kind of note might (??) need to be included with tax form to prove it's been recommended for a specific condition (and just leave it at that).
Your diagnosis should remain private - unless it's obvious by a particular vitamin or nutrient deficiency (such as magnesium).
If you have a tax preparer, they would know if verification of "recommendation" would need to be attached. -
[ 03-31-2016, 02:42 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Page 2: [Section] What Expenses Can You Include This Year?
. . .
Page 5, column two:
Acupuncture
You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay for acupuncture.
Page 14, Column One, near bottom:
Transportation
You can include in medical expenses amounts paid for transportation primarily for, and essential to, medical care. . . . [much more in this section].
Page 15: What Expenses Aren't Includible?
Page 16, column two, top:
Household Help
You can't [cannot] include in medical expenses the cost of house-hold help, even if such help is recommended by a doctor. This is a personal expense that isn't deductible. . . .
Page 16, column two, bottom of page:
Nonprescription Drugs and Medicines
Except for insulin, you can't include in medical expenses amounts you pay for a drug that isn't prescribed. [continues on next page]
Page 17, column one:
Example. Your doctor recommends that you take aspirin. Because aspirin is a drug that doesn't require a physician's prescription, you can't include its cost in your medical expenses.
Nutritional Supplements
You can't 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 aren't for medical care. . . ." -
[ 03-31-2016, 02:44 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- GMO Amigo,
I wonder if you might be so kind as to consider this (in regards to terms used for those with lyme). Thank you.
Topic: Please, do not call me a "Lymie" -
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
our cpa says it must be a licensed medical doctor, meaning an md.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- The term "medical practitioner" is not limited to just MDs.
Their being licensed would, of course be implied. MDs are not the only "medical practitioners" - it fact, the form clearly says acupuncturists are included. There are several others who would fit in the category of "a medical practitioner" as well.
They also refer to the diagnosis for which the purchase / service to be by a "physician" - NDs are, indeed, naturopathic physicians. So are many other classifications of doctors (list below).
For well over 20 years, I've included ND and L.Ac. deductions with some other reporting papers that go by this tax code, as well as LMTs (licensed massage therapy) - although massage treatments needed to be officially prescribed by my MD or ND -
and, as with ANY "alternative" medical deductions, they needed to be
"medically necessary" to address a distinct medical diagnosis . . . as diagnosed by a "physician" [the kind of physician is not stipulated]. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Contact for further detail - as this may vary state by state for state tax reporting - but for federal, really, federal should be the same for all states as long as the medical professional is licensed in the state in which services are provided.
What to Know About the New Rules for Medical Deductions
January 23, 2014
Excerpt:
. . . I’m always surprised by clients who miss many of the deductions simply because they don’t understand what is allowed. For example, you may deduct alternative forms of medical treatment such as acupuncture and visits to naturopathic doctors.
Hearing aids and other medical apparatus are also deductible.
Don’t forget the Medicare premiums paid from your Social Security benefits as well as health insurance premiums and long term care premiums.
For more information on what you can deduct, check IRS Publication 502 Medical and Dental Expenses - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf (updated to reporting year 2015). . . .
The IRS can also be contacted directly by phone.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- key terms here are both: "physicians" (which is unspecified as to type but then clarified to brand out)
and "other medical practitioners" . . . for "legal medical services" :
Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body.
These expenses include payments for legal medical services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners. . . . -
[ 04-02-2016, 06:08 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by GMO Amigo (Member # 46949) on :
Thanks for all the posts. Excellent details.
Keebler, Sorry to offend you with the Lymie title. I'm not very politically correct. Certainly, no offense intended.
Randi, it may pay to look into it a little more, if you're up for it. My CPA just looked into it. He did a great job, very thorough.
Essentially, he would take Keebler's tack: he found that any supplement or medical service or procedure that is performed so as to treat or manage a definite diagnosis -- is covered. This includes ND's. The diagnosis simply needs to be provided by a medical professional.
He is an aggressive CPA, which I value, so I would infer that there are possibly some CPAs out there who would be a bit leery of including some of these services.
Without going into too much detail, that is the summary.
Cheers!
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
ANYTHING A DR TELLS YOU YOU MUST TAKE IS DEDUCTABLE. INCLUDING GLUTEN FREE DIET , AND THE GAS ANDMILEAGE IT TAEKES YOU TO GO TO THE DR AND TO THE STORE THAT SELLS THE GLUTEN FREE FOOD, ETC... AND /OR SHIPPING IF YOU HAVE TO ORDER IT ON LINE.
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
also, if you ever have a child that needs a special school or program - that is also deductable under medical- for learing differences I mean
bandaids are deductable too, haha, but not sanitary napikins or tampons!!! imagine if we boycotted those!!
"not necessary" ???? o brother!!!!
glad you got a CPA that is willing to listen and learn!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Band-aids are not tax deductible on your federal IRS tax reporting form as a medical expense - just like aspirin is not.
However, with the band-aids, you may be thinking of non-taxable items when purchased in the store. That's usually a state &/or local sales tax.
As for women's personal health products, fortunately, there are many voices now raised in getting the local & state sales taxes to be dropped when purchasing. -
![[Smile]](smile.gif)