Can you deduct medical expenses on taxes for cosmetic surgery?

Answer 1

No, unless you were disfigured by an accident and the surgery was to restore you to your former appearance.

Answer 2

While an exotic dancer did "lead the charge" on this issue, you don't necessarily need to be an exotic dancer or porn actor to be able to justify this. What you DO have to establish is that it enabled you to earn MORE money afterward than you did prior to the surgery. In the case of breast augmentation surgery for a stripper or porn star, that's pretty easy since it's all about the visuals and much less about traditional talent. For other folks, establishing the link between physical appearance and income is much more tenuous and therefore difficult to prove. But if you can establish the link, say through a string of rejections for roles or jobs that you're otherwise qualified for prior to the surgery followed by acceptance for those same roles afterward then you may very well have a case to be made. The question of course is deciding if pursuing it will be worth the cost of taking it to the Tax Court if the IRS rejects your claim. If you're in a 25% tax bracket, a $10,000 facelift will save you $2,500 in taxes. If it would cost you more than that in legal and professional fees then it would not be worth pursuing. And if the IRS rejects the claim you may be facing penalties and interest for late payment on top of the tax bill. To avoid the penalties, I'd probably do the following. File a timely return without claiming the deduction. Then file an amended return with the deduction claim. Attach a cover letter explaining your position on the deductibility of the surgery and ask the IRS for a ruling on the deduction first. In your letter, explain how the surgery enabled you to increase your actual taxable income and point out what your income (and the tax!) would have been without the surgery. If you can show the IRS that the surgery enabled THEM to collect more tax from you you should win pretty easily. If the IRS processes the amended return and allows the deduction then you have a very strong case if they come back at a later date and try to deny it. And if they reject the claim, you're just out the cost of preparing the amended return and avoid any penalty and interest charges.

Answer 3

You can deduct medical expenses on your taxes, but it has to be over $5,000. I am not 100% sure if cosmetics is covered, but I know Chiropractors are. I also had surgery on my nose (I broke it and couldn't breathe) and have to save all receipts for next year (I had the surgery after Jan 1). I would ask an accountant for sure

Answer 4

No. It is elective surgery and you cannot get any compensation.

Answer 5

Not unless it is reconstructive and recommended by a doctor.

Answer 6

No

Answer 7

NO.