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Has anyone ever deducted gym membership fees?

J

JazzysMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Lynda</b></i>

Not to be nit-picky, but is your flex spending account money put aside before or after taxes are applied?

If it's set aside, then taxes are applied to remaining income, then from what I understand, you can't deduct any of the expenses paid out of the flex account anyway.</end quote></div>


THis is 100% accurate.
 
L

LouLou

New member
Lynda, I think what you are saying is that I can't get reimbursed through FSA and then also deduct something from my taxes. I am aware of this and am not doing this but it's good to point out.

I only FSA'ed the first 3 months of the year's gym membership before I maxed out my $2400 FSA account mostly through medical expenses. Next year I think I'll claim mostly childcare costs and then I'll have more medical expenses to deduct from taxes ...since I don't think childcare is deductible from taxes.
 
L

LouLou

New member
Lynda, I think what you are saying is that I can't get reimbursed through FSA and then also deduct something from my taxes. I am aware of this and am not doing this but it's good to point out.

I only FSA'ed the first 3 months of the year's gym membership before I maxed out my $2400 FSA account mostly through medical expenses. Next year I think I'll claim mostly childcare costs and then I'll have more medical expenses to deduct from taxes ...since I don't think childcare is deductible from taxes.
 
L

LouLou

New member
Lynda, I think what you are saying is that I can't get reimbursed through FSA and then also deduct something from my taxes. I am aware of this and am not doing this but it's good to point out.

I only FSA'ed the first 3 months of the year's gym membership before I maxed out my $2400 FSA account mostly through medical expenses. Next year I think I'll claim mostly childcare costs and then I'll have more medical expenses to deduct from taxes ...since I don't think childcare is deductible from taxes.
 
J

julie

New member
I made sure that we had a note from Mark's doctor just like Sonia has from her doctor. We DO deduct Mark's gym membership, because it's part of "physical Therapy" and treatment that is prescribed by his doctor JUST for his CF. We do NOT deduct my gym membership for any reason though.

This one is a tough one in my opinion, because it clearly states you cannot deduct it in the tax law, but then it goes further to say that special activitie there ARE deductible and the law covering medical stuff says that anything prescibed by the doctor for treatment and management of a disease IS deductible.... so it's a tough one.
 
J

julie

New member
I made sure that we had a note from Mark's doctor just like Sonia has from her doctor. We DO deduct Mark's gym membership, because it's part of "physical Therapy" and treatment that is prescribed by his doctor JUST for his CF. We do NOT deduct my gym membership for any reason though.

This one is a tough one in my opinion, because it clearly states you cannot deduct it in the tax law, but then it goes further to say that special activitie there ARE deductible and the law covering medical stuff says that anything prescibed by the doctor for treatment and management of a disease IS deductible.... so it's a tough one.
 
J

julie

New member
I made sure that we had a note from Mark's doctor just like Sonia has from her doctor. We DO deduct Mark's gym membership, because it's part of "physical Therapy" and treatment that is prescribed by his doctor JUST for his CF. We do NOT deduct my gym membership for any reason though.

This one is a tough one in my opinion, because it clearly states you cannot deduct it in the tax law, but then it goes further to say that special activitie there ARE deductible and the law covering medical stuff says that anything prescibed by the doctor for treatment and management of a disease IS deductible.... so it's a tough one.
 
L

LouLou

New member
FSA stands for Flexible Spending Account.
Basically the administrator of the plan deducts a given amount of money out of your paycheck each month pre-tax. Then you submit receipts for medical expenditures or childcare expenses throughout the year and get the money back...never paying taxes on the income. It's a good deal but only if you are diligent about receipt keeping and submitting reinbursement requests because all FSA programs are 'use it or loss it.'

There are also HSA (Health Savings Accounts) which I am not familar with but I believe have a similar premise to the FSAs.
 
L

LouLou

New member
FSA stands for Flexible Spending Account.
Basically the administrator of the plan deducts a given amount of money out of your paycheck each month pre-tax. Then you submit receipts for medical expenditures or childcare expenses throughout the year and get the money back...never paying taxes on the income. It's a good deal but only if you are diligent about receipt keeping and submitting reinbursement requests because all FSA programs are 'use it or loss it.'

There are also HSA (Health Savings Accounts) which I am not familar with but I believe have a similar premise to the FSAs.
 
L

LouLou

New member
FSA stands for Flexible Spending Account.
Basically the administrator of the plan deducts a given amount of money out of your paycheck each month pre-tax. Then you submit receipts for medical expenditures or childcare expenses throughout the year and get the money back...never paying taxes on the income. It's a good deal but only if you are diligent about receipt keeping and submitting reinbursement requests because all FSA programs are 'use it or loss it.'

There are also HSA (Health Savings Accounts) which I am not familar with but I believe have a similar premise to the FSAs.
 
L

LouLou

New member
No, you'd need to talk to your employer's benefits coordinator or your husband's benefits department to see if it's offered. The fact that you haven't ever heard of it isn't a good sign ~ not all companies offer it. Do look into it though, it's worth a shot.
 
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