Stop the presses!! Is this accurate?
Stephanie H.
Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dare to win. - Bernadette Devlin
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway - Earl Nightingale
All Time High/Pre-Op/Surgery Day/1st Goal/2nd Goal/Current
217 210 204 145 135 118
GOAL!!!
April 7th 2010 - LBL/BL/BA
on 2/20/10 4:36 am, edited 2/20/10 4:36 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
You can only claim it is reconstructive surgery IF it is medically necessary to fix something due to deformity or disease....you can't just call a face lift or a Tummy Tuck "reconstructive" and hope the IRS will accept it.
I wish we could....I've spend almost $35,000 so far on my procedures.
on 2/20/10 3:50 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
The IRS says nothing about how much weight you lost it all depends on whether or not the surgery is "medically necessary".
Here's the tax code. (you can read more at www.irs.gov)
“Cosmetic Surgery
Generally, you cannot include in medical expenses the amount you pay for unnecessary cosmetic surgery. This includes any procedure that is directed at improving the patient’s appearance and does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. You generally cannot include in medical expenses the amount you pay for procedures such as face lifts, hair transplants, hair removal (electrolysis), and liposuction.
You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay for cosmetic surgery if it is necessary to improve a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease."
NOW....having said that- there has been the rare (1 or 2) cases that people challenged the IRS in court and I have read about one woman who won but I’m not sure I want to have a legal battle with the IRS. Deducting $20k paid for surgery will not reduce your tax pill by that much anyhow.
So, ask your tax consultant…..ask a real tax consultant someone well versed in tax law.
If you deduct it and the IRS rejects it you will not only owe the money on the taxes but you’ll owe penalties on top of it too.
Sorry to burst everyones bubble....
BUT if anyone has found something different in IRS rules/regs please share.
Thanks for the link!
Stephanie H.
Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dare to win. - Bernadette Devlin
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway - Earl Nightingale
All Time High/Pre-Op/Surgery Day/1st Goal/2nd Goal/Current
217 210 204 145 135 118
GOAL!!!
April 7th 2010 - LBL/BL/BA
on 2/20/10 4:33 am - West Central FL☼RIDA , FL
I mean no offensive to anyone who works at H&R block or any other "cookie cutter" type tax firm but please with something this unusual ask someone who specializes in tax law.
Good luck.
Let me know if you find out anything different.
FYI - my tax guy is a former NY IRS big wig and he said "sorry, no can do".....
Here is a link I to a discussion I commented on back in October. I fully intend on deducting my expenses, however, I have the reference material to back it up. Please read my disclamer, but the information should give you some info to provide to your tax preparer. I would only do it if I had a knowledgeable CPA or tax attorney on my side.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/4050527/Letters-for-Taxes/#32890729
This is only my opinion.
12/09 and 6/11, 9 skin removal procedures with Dr. Sauceda in Monterrey Mexico
Revised to the Sleeve after losing 271 lbs with the LapBand.
Is the excess skin left afterwards a "deformity that is the result of a disease?"
Is skin removal a "correction of deformity that results from disease" ?
If insurance denies you, does that automatically mean it's cosmetic ?
What is the standard of documentation required to satisfy the IRS ?
Welcome to the world of the government's tax auditors and accountants deciding medical issues !
(Ask them in New Jersey, where they have a cosmetic surgery tax and have to sort this kind of thing out all day long !)
I've known people to do it, but I agree...is it worth a possible tumble with the IRS over the deduction ?
Plastic Surgery
Houston, Texas
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