Let's talk taxes!

[AtlantaRed 651]

Hi Folks!

I know we can write off our expenses after we surpass 10% of our income in medical expenses.

I would like to hear specifically what you have written off on your taxes? Other than the surgery, doc visits and medications, I have seen Protein drinks/powders listed as ok to write off. What else?

Anything I buy for the surgery? Heating pads? FitBit?

I have never used a tax person before and I don't personally know one. I'd rather not spend the money on one. We always ending up owing taxes (however, no clue why). When I was single and rented, I always got back $600-800. After getting married and owning a house, we have owed every year even though we put single and 0 for dependents on our W-4 and have the max taken out of our paychecks.

Thanks so much!

[BlazinAshes 39]

U have a great question!! I only know if the standard copays and meds etc but would be nice to include the fitbit lol.

[MissErika 65]

I am interested in knowing this too. My parents paid for my surgery (I am 21 and there is no way I could of afforded it myself, since my insurance didn't cover it through employer) and we were just talking about this. My parents owe about 2,000 per year, on top of all the taxes taken out of each paycheck. Someone please know the answer to this~

[AtlantaRed 651]

How about this morning? Anyone out there with some information on specifics of what we can include when filing taxes?

[AtlantaRed 651]

I keep trying to bump this up at different times of the day. Doesn't anyone have any information on this?

[Melting in Az 22]

You can also write off the gas/milage to and from dr office, to and from hospital, and to and from pharmacy to get meds. Hope that helps some.

[mittiga 47]

CPA here...you can write off all your medical expenses if you itemize your deductions on schedule A...however this is limited to 10% of AGI. Aka not many people will qualify for this deduction

But on a positive note I was just approved for surgery tonight woohoo!!

[mittiga 47]

That was supposed to be a frown face lol

[AtlantaRed 651]

CPA here...you can write off all your medical expenses if you itemize your deductions on schedule A...however this is limited to 10% of AGI. Aka not many people will qualify for this deduction

But on a positive note I was just approved for surgery tonight woohoo!!

I am self pay, so I will qualify. Just wanting specifics.

• Vitamins?
  
• Protein drinks/shakes?
  
• food scale?
  
• heating pads?
  

Congrats on your approval!

[deedadumble 1,033]

Heres a link to the IRS publication: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Publication-502,-Medical-and-Dental-Expenses-1

[mittiga 47]

I am self pay' date=' so I will qualify. Just wanting specifics. [*']vitamins? [*]protein drinks/shakes? [*]food scale? [*]heating pads? Congrats on your approval!

Thanks! Nervous yet excited, what a strange feeling to be approved...You could deduct the Vitamins and Protein as these are necessary for all sleevers. Even the food scale is deductible but probably not heating pads as these aren't a necessity. Very slim chance that anyone would even qualify for these deductions though.

[AtlantaRed 651]

Heres a link to the IRS publication: http://www.irs.gov/u...ntal-Expenses-1

Thank you. I had looked at that. There are confusing things to me, that's why I wanted to hear from those who had done this already.

Such as:

You cannot include the cost of diet food or beverages in medical expenses because the diet food and bever-ages substitute for what is normally consumed to satisfy nutritional needs. You can include the cost of special food in medical expenses only if:

1. 
   

The food does not satisfy normal nutritional needs,

The food alleviates or treats an illness, and

The need for the food is substantiated by a physician.

So are the Protein Drinks covered or not? The need for them is substantiated by a physician but "you cannot include the cost of food or beverages...."

[mittiga 47]

Thank you. I had looked at that. There are confusing things to me' date=' that's why I wanted to hear from those who had done this already. Such as: You cannot include the cost of diet food or beverages in medical expenses because the diet food and bever-ages substitute for what is normally consumed to satisfy nutritional needs. You can include the cost of special food in medical expenses only if: [*'] The food does not satisfy normal nutritional needs, The food alleviates or treats an illness, and The need for the food is substantiated by a physician. So are the Protein drinks covered or not? The need for them is substantiated by a physician but "you cannot include the cost of food or beverages...."

Check this out

http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc502.html

You can consider this diet foods used within a diet plan, which is true. All deductible. But again, Protein isn't super expensive so tough to deduct.

[deedadumble 1,033]

Thank you. I had looked at that. There are confusing things to me' date=' that's why I wanted to hear from those who had done this already. Such as: You cannot include the cost of diet food or beverages in medical expenses because the diet food and bever-ages substitute for what is normally consumed to satisfy nutritional needs. You can include the cost of special food in medical expenses only if: [*'] The food does not satisfy normal nutritional needs, The food alleviates or treats an illness, and The need for the food is substantiated by a physician. So are the Protein drinks covered or not? The need for them is substantiated by a physician but "you cannot include the cost of food or beverages...."

The worst that could happen if you claim it would be it would be thrown out if you were audited. The only time that you really have to drink Protein Drinks is the first two or three weeks of most programs. After that, I think you'd be hard pressed to say it's a medical requirement. I had surgery in January and I've maybe spent $100 on Protein drinks since then.

[AtlantaRed 651]

Ok, thanks! My surgery will be in December so I do not have much time left in the year after that. However, I will be way beyond the 10% just paying for the surgery. Just wanting to claim as much as I can since we've had to pay so much in the past. Wouldn't mind getting a break this year and don't want to miss anything!