RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
Can we claim vitamins/supplements? I have spent a small fortune.
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 27775
posted
I don't think so since they are classified as food.
-------------------- May health be with you!
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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ConnieMc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 191
posted
From the IRS website:
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.
Note the following phrase: UNLESS THEY ARE RECOMMENDED BY A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER AS TREATMENT FOR A SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITION DIAGNOSED BY A PHYSICIAN.
I have done this for years. What you need to do is list the supplements, vitamins, etc you have taken throughout the tax year in a letter format. At the top, put: I am treating __________ for tick borne infections and over the course of 2010, I recommended that s/he take the following nutritional supplements as part of the treatment regimen for her/his diagnosis:
Then have your doctor sign/date at the bottom of the page.
You do not need to submit this to IRS. Just keep it with your tax records in case you are ever audited.
This is a legit medical expense as long as your doctor is willing to put this in writing.
Posts: 2275 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2000
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momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 27775
posted
Good info Connie... thanks!
This is a huge expense. The list would be very long. Just wondering how to present this list to be signed...
Perhaps putting them all in a neat spreadsheet with check boxes in case there is something they do not want to recommend?
-------------------- May health be with you!
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
We spent over $15K in 2010 on supplements. No way I am not deducting!
Connie thanks for the idea about the letter.
My LLND also writes out the supplements on a chart note along with the abx and other rx has us taking.
I have saved every receipt last year. Our out of pocket medical expenses were $42K in 2010.
Posts: 333 | From Lyme Here Too | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
Just get a letter to the IRS from your doctor. I had her write a letter for everything. Including clean water, my chlorine filter and everything else she recommended.
Posts: 564 | From Tick Hell | Registered: Oct 2008
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