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    medical deduction

    An elderly client told me her doctor prescribed massage therapy, she did 48 visits last year. Are you comfortable taking that deduction?

    #2
    Therapy is an allowed medical deduction. See Pub 502, page 14.

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      #3
      Absolutely. I believe it would be preferable if the massages were performed by a licensed provider, if there even is a licensing requirement, and a written letter or other document from the woman's doctor would also be a good idea. Massage therapy is often recommended for persistent sciatica.
      Roland Slugg
      "I do what I can."

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        #4
        Consider also

        Does Medicare / private insurance cover any of the costs ? ?

        FE

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          #5
          Originally posted by FEDUKE404 View Post
          Does Medicare / private insurance cover any of the costs ? ?

          FE
          Medicare does not, just have a client who found out about this and then thought it also could not be deducted. To be clear: Are you saying that even if there is no prescription you would be comfortable to deduct massage if medical is the reason?

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            #6
            pub 502, page 14

            Somehow I always thought massage therapy is different from physical therapy. I am 100% certain physical therapy is deductible, but massage therapy seems a little gray. My client is 76, seems has ache and pain all the time.

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              #7
              Note OP stated it was prescribed by a doctor, but the standard is usually if prescribed for a specific condition. If someone just decides to go for it for general health reasons, or because they like it, I would not take it as a medical deduction. Sort of like vitamins.

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                #8
                Probable deduction

                Originally posted by Gretel View Post
                Medicare does not, just have a client who found out about this and then thought it also could not be deducted. To be clear: Are you saying that even if there is no prescription you would be comfortable to deduct massage if medical is the reason?
                Not sure how much weight / relevance a "prescription" might carry.

                The key factor is whether the massage therapy can be interpreted as a medical treatment. If so, it is likely a qualifying Schedule A deduction.

                FE

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                  #9
                  This is a quote from the IRS TAX MAP under "medical therapy"
                  "You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for therapy received as medical treatment." I would make sure to keep the doctor's diagnosis report, written prescription and/or letter of recommendation of the therapy in your client file.
                  Believe nothing you have not personally researched and verified.

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