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Another tax question...

L

ladybug

New member
Hi, everyone ...

Just wondering if I can deduct the mileage to my gym to workout 4 times a week? I have a letter signed by my doc that says its recommended I do cardio and weightlifting 5 times per week for lung health for treatment of CF. So, can I deduct the travel roundtrip? I won't do the 5 times a week cause honestly I don't go quite that often, but do try to go 3-4 times. Though, again, I don't have proof of the days I went, so it would just be a generalized 4 X miles to gym and home X $.18 per mile. What do you think? Is this an allowed deduction?

Thanks!
 
L

ladybug

New member
Hi, everyone ...

Just wondering if I can deduct the mileage to my gym to workout 4 times a week? I have a letter signed by my doc that says its recommended I do cardio and weightlifting 5 times per week for lung health for treatment of CF. So, can I deduct the travel roundtrip? I won't do the 5 times a week cause honestly I don't go quite that often, but do try to go 3-4 times. Though, again, I don't have proof of the days I went, so it would just be a generalized 4 X miles to gym and home X $.18 per mile. What do you think? Is this an allowed deduction?

Thanks!
 
L

ladybug

New member
Hi, everyone ...

Just wondering if I can deduct the mileage to my gym to workout 4 times a week? I have a letter signed by my doc that says its recommended I do cardio and weightlifting 5 times per week for lung health for treatment of CF. So, can I deduct the travel roundtrip? I won't do the 5 times a week cause honestly I don't go quite that often, but do try to go 3-4 times. Though, again, I don't have proof of the days I went, so it would just be a generalized 4 X miles to gym and home X $.18 per mile. What do you think? Is this an allowed deduction?

Thanks!
 
A

Allie

New member
I don't think so. You can't deduct a health club membership, so I doubt you can deduct the mileage to and from.
 
A

Allie

New member
I don't think so. You can't deduct a health club membership, so I doubt you can deduct the mileage to and from.
 
A

Allie

New member
I don't think so. You can't deduct a health club membership, so I doubt you can deduct the mileage to and from.
 
L

ladybug

New member
Actually, I think you can deduct a health membership if its prescribed (as per my letter from my CF doc) for the treatment of a disease. I know you cannot deduct for pure general good-health reasons, but I think Julie had told me last year that you can deduct if its "Rx'ed"... Julie, if you're there, can you clarify? I thought you told me to get a letter signed by physician to back up the necessity for medical need.

Also, I did print out the entire 33 page info. from the IRS that does state that gym memberships are not deductible if for general overall health reasons. So, I assume that means they CAN be deducted if its actually a required part of a medical plan.

Hmmm....
 
L

ladybug

New member
Actually, I think you can deduct a health membership if its prescribed (as per my letter from my CF doc) for the treatment of a disease. I know you cannot deduct for pure general good-health reasons, but I think Julie had told me last year that you can deduct if its "Rx'ed"... Julie, if you're there, can you clarify? I thought you told me to get a letter signed by physician to back up the necessity for medical need.

Also, I did print out the entire 33 page info. from the IRS that does state that gym memberships are not deductible if for general overall health reasons. So, I assume that means they CAN be deducted if its actually a required part of a medical plan.

Hmmm....
 
L

ladybug

New member
Actually, I think you can deduct a health membership if its prescribed (as per my letter from my CF doc) for the treatment of a disease. I know you cannot deduct for pure general good-health reasons, but I think Julie had told me last year that you can deduct if its "Rx'ed"... Julie, if you're there, can you clarify? I thought you told me to get a letter signed by physician to back up the necessity for medical need.

Also, I did print out the entire 33 page info. from the IRS that does state that gym memberships are not deductible if for general overall health reasons. So, I assume that means they CAN be deducted if its actually a required part of a medical plan.

Hmmm....
 
A

Allie

New member
Hm, I guess we just never chanced it, since that would have opened the door for us to write off everything Ry did to help keep his health in check: rock climbing shoes, backpack, travel to and from kayaking sites. I guess if you're writing off the membership, I wouldn't push it further with mileage to and from the gym *shrug*
 
A

Allie

New member
Hm, I guess we just never chanced it, since that would have opened the door for us to write off everything Ry did to help keep his health in check: rock climbing shoes, backpack, travel to and from kayaking sites. I guess if you're writing off the membership, I wouldn't push it further with mileage to and from the gym *shrug*
 
A

Allie

New member
Hm, I guess we just never chanced it, since that would have opened the door for us to write off everything Ry did to help keep his health in check: rock climbing shoes, backpack, travel to and from kayaking sites. I guess if you're writing off the membership, I wouldn't push it further with mileage to and from the gym *shrug*
 
L

ladybug

New member
Yeah, I didn't want to push it with the gym clothes issue cause like my DH said, "you'd probably buy tennis shoes either way." So, I agree that lots of things we do for our health have indirect fees associated, but I wouldn't go crazy with that stuff either. If my doc hadn't rx'ed the gym and said it was integral to my avoiding hospitalization, I probably wouldn't deduct a gym membership either, but we really NEED to exercise just like we NEED to do treatments and meds, etc... I guess if you can deduct other things the doc makes you do, why not exercise?

For anyone who doesn't know, I think acupuncture and other alternative forms of treatment for CF are also deductible. I don't do any alternative stuff like that (supplements are NOT included in this deduction), but thought I'd mention it. Also, wanted to mention that the 33 page info. on the medical deduction stuff is deffinitely worthe the ink and the read! I'll try to post the link here if I can find it... I think someone else posted it on another post.
 
L

ladybug

New member
Yeah, I didn't want to push it with the gym clothes issue cause like my DH said, "you'd probably buy tennis shoes either way." So, I agree that lots of things we do for our health have indirect fees associated, but I wouldn't go crazy with that stuff either. If my doc hadn't rx'ed the gym and said it was integral to my avoiding hospitalization, I probably wouldn't deduct a gym membership either, but we really NEED to exercise just like we NEED to do treatments and meds, etc... I guess if you can deduct other things the doc makes you do, why not exercise?

For anyone who doesn't know, I think acupuncture and other alternative forms of treatment for CF are also deductible. I don't do any alternative stuff like that (supplements are NOT included in this deduction), but thought I'd mention it. Also, wanted to mention that the 33 page info. on the medical deduction stuff is deffinitely worthe the ink and the read! I'll try to post the link here if I can find it... I think someone else posted it on another post.
 
L

ladybug

New member
Yeah, I didn't want to push it with the gym clothes issue cause like my DH said, "you'd probably buy tennis shoes either way." So, I agree that lots of things we do for our health have indirect fees associated, but I wouldn't go crazy with that stuff either. If my doc hadn't rx'ed the gym and said it was integral to my avoiding hospitalization, I probably wouldn't deduct a gym membership either, but we really NEED to exercise just like we NEED to do treatments and meds, etc... I guess if you can deduct other things the doc makes you do, why not exercise?

For anyone who doesn't know, I think acupuncture and other alternative forms of treatment for CF are also deductible. I don't do any alternative stuff like that (supplements are NOT included in this deduction), but thought I'd mention it. Also, wanted to mention that the 33 page info. on the medical deduction stuff is deffinitely worthe the ink and the read! I'll try to post the link here if I can find it... I think someone else posted it on another post.
 
6

65rosessamurai

Guest
I'd sure love to find a way to get a tax deduction for my life insurance premiums I pay out the Yen for every year! Despite paying almost $800 a year for two policies, but can't get any tax breaks from Japan, it'd be nice to finally find a way, after 14 years of having NO tax break from it!
Despite having no income in the U.S., they still insist I 'report' my income, which also sucks because I end up with not getting anything back, and have to pay an odd amount for postage, as well as my American Bank account! I hadn't reported my income since 2000, mostly because by 2001 with all the tax law changes, I couldn't get decent help for my questions, like gtting taxed for my savings account, which is in Japan, but an American Bank!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0">
Maybe they should start saying the FIVE seasons: Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall, and Tax season!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0">
But, then again, after about 40 years, no more winter, so maybe we'll be back to the four seasons, again!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">
 
6

65rosessamurai

Guest
I'd sure love to find a way to get a tax deduction for my life insurance premiums I pay out the Yen for every year! Despite paying almost $800 a year for two policies, but can't get any tax breaks from Japan, it'd be nice to finally find a way, after 14 years of having NO tax break from it!
Despite having no income in the U.S., they still insist I 'report' my income, which also sucks because I end up with not getting anything back, and have to pay an odd amount for postage, as well as my American Bank account! I hadn't reported my income since 2000, mostly because by 2001 with all the tax law changes, I couldn't get decent help for my questions, like gtting taxed for my savings account, which is in Japan, but an American Bank!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0">
Maybe they should start saying the FIVE seasons: Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall, and Tax season!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0">
But, then again, after about 40 years, no more winter, so maybe we'll be back to the four seasons, again!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">
 
6

65rosessamurai

Guest
I'd sure love to find a way to get a tax deduction for my life insurance premiums I pay out the Yen for every year! Despite paying almost $800 a year for two policies, but can't get any tax breaks from Japan, it'd be nice to finally find a way, after 14 years of having NO tax break from it!
Despite having no income in the U.S., they still insist I 'report' my income, which also sucks because I end up with not getting anything back, and have to pay an odd amount for postage, as well as my American Bank account! I hadn't reported my income since 2000, mostly because by 2001 with all the tax law changes, I couldn't get decent help for my questions, like gtting taxed for my savings account, which is in Japan, but an American Bank!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0">
Maybe they should start saying the FIVE seasons: Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall, and Tax season!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0">
But, then again, after about 40 years, no more winter, so maybe we'll be back to the four seasons, again!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">
 
J

julie

New member
If it is a part of your health plan, recommended and Rx'd by your doctor for management of your health, then YES!! It's the same thing as going to a physical therapy appointment or a chiropractor or a massage therapist or something like that. You have a disease, your disease is somewhat managed/dealt with by going to the gym, it is prescribed by your doctor. Without officially being called a medical appointment, it IS essentially a medical appointment.

Just make sure you have all the relevant information from your doctor, and get them to be as specific as possible!
 
J

julie

New member
If it is a part of your health plan, recommended and Rx'd by your doctor for management of your health, then YES!! It's the same thing as going to a physical therapy appointment or a chiropractor or a massage therapist or something like that. You have a disease, your disease is somewhat managed/dealt with by going to the gym, it is prescribed by your doctor. Without officially being called a medical appointment, it IS essentially a medical appointment.

Just make sure you have all the relevant information from your doctor, and get them to be as specific as possible!
 
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