Med Exp - trailer for wheelchair?

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  • dkss
    Senior Member
    • Dec 2007
    • 226

    #1

    Med Exp - trailer for wheelchair?

    I have been arguing with myself all morning about this (somedays I really believe that I am a paranoid schizophrenic!)
    Client inquired if a trailer purchased to haul their electric wheelchair is deductible as a medical expense. Of course, I had to read thru the pub and the TaxBook and I have arguments for each view.

    What say you? Deductible or not?

    Thanks!
    Debbie
    Last edited by dkss; 01-18-2011, 03:06 PM. Reason: add
  • Dusty2004
    Senior Member
    • Dec 2009
    • 374

    #2
    I can see both

    But I would argue no. Why do they need a trailer to haul it?

    Dusty

    Comment

    • dkss
      Senior Member
      • Dec 2007
      • 226

      #3
      Dusty,
      They can't afford to purchase a van or truck and want to tow a trailer with their car..

      Comment

      • DaveO
        Senior Member
        • Dec 2005
        • 1453

        #4
        The extra expense to adapt a van to haul the wheel chair would be deductible so I would say the extra expense to adapt a car (the trailer) would also be deductible.

        I grappled with a similar situation a couple years ago with a couple who had a custom home built to accommodate their wheelchair bound son. The builder had made many design changes plus some special additions to allow for access to all areas of the house.
        In other words, a democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.
        Alexis de Tocqueville

        Comment

        • dsi
          Senior Member
          • Dec 2005
          • 705

          #5
          I would share my concern with the client and allow him/her to make the decision. I would prefer to err on the side of the TP.
          Dave, EA

          Comment

          • Kram BergGold
            Senior Member
            • Jun 2006
            • 2112

            #6
            Take it

            If the wheelchair is deductible the trailer is deductible.

            Comment

            • dkss
              Senior Member
              • Dec 2007
              • 226

              #7
              DaveO - "The extra expense to adapt a van to haul the wheel chair would be deductible so I would say the extra expense to adapt a car (the trailer) would also be deductible" - my thoughts exactly.

              dsi - Dave - I will probably explain my concern to the client and let them decide.

              Sometimes, I think I need to be more aggressive!

              Thanks!
              Debbie

              Comment

              • erchess
                Senior Member
                • Jan 2007
                • 3513

                #8
                Ye have not because ye ask not

                As a general rule the IRS does not, because it cannot, check returns for tax savings that were missed. We all know there are exceptions and at least in my opinion they do as much harm as good when they try to break this rule. But what that means to me is that if I am in doubt whether to take something after consulting all the resources I have, I usually take it but disclose so that neither my client nor I gets in serious trouble.

                In this case what I am hearing is that the client is sufficiently handicapped to need a wheel chair that is too big to fit inside the car. The chair and the means of taking it places would seem to obviously qualify as medical expenses.

                Comment

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