Taxes and transition, can anything be written off?

[April221]

I've recently been in a conversation with someone who suggested that I save all receipts related to transition. The cost of electrolysis alone is considerable, and with SRS planned for 2009, the question came up. What, if any, transition related costs are tax deductible as medical expenses? Can SRS be written off as a medically necessary deduction? What about the costs of therapy? Wigs? Electrolysis?

[Mnemosyne]

I have known those who have written off meds, electro, and surgery. All but one got away with it.

[tekla]

Depends on your accountant.  I ask mine what 'two plus two is' and he answers "what do you want it to be' --- but if you do your own taxes, or do the H&R Block deal, not so much.

[glendagladwitch]

People who have their returns signed by accountants in good standing are 7 times less likely than others to be audited.  H&R Block is not in such good standing recently since they screwed up their software a while back, but they are still better than doing it yourself.  So, if you are going to try it, Tekla's point is key.  Get an accountant to sign off on it.

[tekla]

Well if you want the real point, here it is.  Never hire an accountant who is not also a lawyer.  An accountant can only give expert testimony in court, an attorney can defend you.  So the best choice is a CPA who is a lawyer.  P.S.  The IRS hates those guys, one more reason to have them on your side.

(So says me, who wrote off decades of Grateful Dead tickets and touring costs as a business expense.)  Really.

[mickie88]

thx, that was a LOT of info i needed to know.


Warrior Princess Mickie

[Imadique]

In Australia you can claim your "Net Medical Expenses", which is your (combined) expenses above $1500 after any Medicare rebates. I haven't checked the legitimacy of claiming electro/laser (though I'm sure a case could be made for it if it ever came to that) but it's definitely something you can claim your G.P/Endo/Psych /Meds/SRS on if they add up to $1500 after deducting any rebates. There may be a similar thing in other countries.

If I can't claim electro and laser then I don't think I'll make it to $1500...stupid over-generous health care system 

[Scotty72]

Depends on your accountant.  I ask mine what 'two plus two is' and he answers "what do you want it to be' --- but if you do your own taxes, or do the H&R Block deal, not so much.

That sounds like the perfect accountant.  The one my parents use has written off some pretty crazy stuff in the past.  We called our hot tub a camper shell for my dads truck, and our Motor Home a van for moving equipment and tools around.  He's no lawyer, but he does a damn good job of writting insane stuff off.

[Dennis]

In Australia you can claim your "Net Medical Expenses", which is your (combined) expenses above $1500 after any Medicare rebates. I haven't checked the legitimacy of claiming electro/laser (though I'm sure a case could be made for it if it ever came to that) but it's definitely something you can claim your G.P/Endo/Psych /Meds/SRS on if they add up to $1500 after deducting any rebates. There may be a similar thing in other countries.

If I can't claim electro and laser then I don't think I'll make it to $1500...stupid over-generous health care system 

We have almost the same system in Canada. I wrote off my chest surgery, but most of my other stuff doesn't come near the limit because of our medical system. All I have to pay for is T, which is about $30 for a 10 week supply.

Dennis

[Mister]

I've deducted everything that was an uncovered medical expense, including copays and surgery.  Like Tekla said, get yourself a good accountant! 

[J.T.]

Alright, so I'm bumping this topic instead of starting a new one.

I paid for my half of my Top Surgery in 2008.  Didn't have surgery 'til this year.  Do i claim the amount i paid in 2008 or do i have to wait until 2009 taxes to claim it all?

[FairyGirl]

I'm pretty sure it would be claimed for the year in which you paid and got your receipt. If your receipt is dated 2008 then that would be the year you claim for.