? claiming lap-band as a tax deduction (self-pay)

ikalla

Hi all. Getting banded on 8-4-08 with Dr Aceves in Mexico. Has anyone who is self-pay and had surgery done in Mexico taking the cost as a medical tax decuction? Can this be done? I would be interested in hearing form anyone with any experience with this sort of thing. TIA

mini_me

i deducted my expenses when i had the surgery. there are requirements though. when i did it, i think that the medical expenses had to be greater than 7.5% of your total income (or something like that).

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h-218/s-208/c-155/g-150--new goal-135
Banded March 13, 2006, Dr. Spivak
02/18/08-fit into my first pair of size 8 pants!!
08/14/08-FIT INTO MY FIRST PAIR OF SIZE 6 PANTS!!

Long2BFree

Mini Me - Did you have to get a prescription from your PCP saying it was a medically necessary procedure? Was your doctor in Mexico or the U.S.? I'm wonder if either of these make a differance for whether or not you can deduct the medical expenses.??

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Need to lose 138#
Pre-op diet - 20# lost
Banded July 17, 2008 by Dr. David Thoman in Santa Barbara
8/27/08 - First fill, 2 c.c.
Lost since surgery -17 lbs.

stef123633

You can deduct any amount that is greater than 7.5% of your AGI. Your account or turbo tax should walk you through it. Here is a link to the IRS official info on it...

Publication 502 (2007), Medical and Dental Expenses

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strikeuptheband

I was self pay and I am keeping receipts of everything that was related to it...psych visit, dr visits, physical therapist, dietician, etc.

Wish I could also deduct the protein drinks, thats related and I sure cant call it groceries! But I need it. Being able to deduct buying smaller clothes would also be great but I don't think the tax man would go for that one.

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strikeuptheband
Banded by Dr James Pitt from Columbia Bariatric Associates in Columbia, MO on 6/2/08
1st fill: 7/1/08 3 cc.
2nd fill: 7/10/08 1 cc.
3rd fill: 7/31/08 1 cc.
4th fill: 8/21/08 .5 cc.

IntoLess

And remember to add to this any prescription medications you pay for, eye exams, eye glasses, contacts, children's (assuming there are any) exams, glasses, etc, spouse's eye exams, etc (assuming you are married and filing jointly).......All of this can add up quickly....gas, bus fare, lodging (to an extent)
I am sure all of this is on the irs website stated above, but remember it all adds up.

MacMadame

Also, if your company has a FSA for medical expenses, take advantage of that. Lots of OTC stuff is deductable and it comes off your wages as pre-tax income.

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sweetrepose

It is 7.5 % of your AGI. Also, you can add mileage to ALL your doctor visits, copays, prescriptions. No protein drinks because that is just replacing your other food intake.. Good luck

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Band date: 06/23/08
Dr Tersigni - Coos Bay, Oregon
1st Fill:
2nd Fill:
3rd Fill
292/272/145

SanDiegoSusan

Absolutely! Medical expenses are deducted on your Schedule A (which you will file this year even if you normally don't.) Medical expenses must be higher than 7.5% of your income in order to be deducted. A simple example is: Your surgery cost $17,500. You make $100,000. The first 7.5% of expenses are ignored so your deduction is $17,500 minus $7,500 (7.5% of $100,000) for a $10,000 deduction. If you make less your deduction is greater, i.e. a $50,000 income only ignores the first $3,750 and $13,750 is written off. If you make more your income is higher and the 7.5% disallowed is higher. Keep track of all medical expenses including co-pays for visits before the surgery and prescriptions unrelated to the surgery as all of this will be deductible. Don't forget mileage, travel expenses (limited - see your preparer) and non-surgery related expenses such as glasses and dental work are also included here.

Because you will be doing itemized deductions this year instead of the standard deductions there are other things to keep in mind. Keep track of all your charitable deductions. If you give away a bunch of clothes that are now too big - photograph what you are giving, itemize each item, and use an online calculator like "It's Deductible" (http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-preparation/itsdeductible.jhtml ) to figure out your write off. (You will probably underestimate the value of your used items so this is handy, and a printout will let the IRS know how you figured out the value in the event of an audit. And remember, an audit is nothing to fear if you are honest and have the receipts you need.) Also keep track of all your cash donations and don't give cash! You must have a cancelled check to take a write-off now, so if you feed the red bucket for the Salvation Army during the holidays write a check instead of throwing in bills.

If you live in a non-income tax state (WA, NV, Alaska, Montana, FL and one or two I always forget) keep track of your sales tax paid, especially if you have a big purchase like a car. Part of your auto-reg fees are a write-off, property taxes and mortgage interest are no-brainers if now a very small amount that means you usually no longer itemize. And unreimbursed employee expenses (mileage to a seminar, lunch with the boss, uniform dry cleaning, supplies you purchase) have a 2% threshold (like the 7.5% above) but may be worth keeping track of. Also a safety deposit box used to hold investments (like silver, jewelry or stock certificates), investment expenses, and tax prep fees (including the cost of Turbo Tax the year before), all fall under this 2% threshold.

If your taxes are usually very simple this may be the year to hire a professional to maximize your deductions. (But don't let them make some up! Yes, I have seen that and the taxpayer gets punished, not the preparer!) Ask friends for a recommendation and ask for a fee range before you hire the preparer. (My guess: a simplified return with a Schedule A is $125 to $250 but if they spend more time with you and try to find every deduction including the ones I haven't listed here they may be worth a bit more.)

(The CYA:biggrin2:) Disclaimer: This is very general tax information and may or may not apply to your situation. Please see a tax professional to determine your own situation.

Also, I am uncertain as to the ability to write off international expenses. I just haven't had this question come up. So you may be limited to US expenses but I don't think so.

Hope this helps! (And yes, I copied from a reply I did earlier if it seems a little deja vu. Not the most fascinating subject to write about over and over again.:biggrin2:)

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Surgery Date: July 2, 2008 with Dr. Horgan, UCSD!

miztrniceguy

we deduct ALL medications and anything health related. i include protein drinks because i only drink them while on liquids after a fill, hence they are medically necessary. i log all dr trips, including the computer dr, in an excel spreadsheet within a day or 2 of the visit.

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347/276/199 goal...total loss=71 Banded 11/9/07 WTLSC in Overland Park, KS :)

midwestchickie

If you are paying some of your medical copays, prescriptions, etc., with money out of your flex spending plan, you can't use those expenses as a tax deduction, can you?

Phoenix

If you use Turbo Tax, it will walk you thru it. You can use it all, but the portion that was kept pre-tax gets a different rate.

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Banded 6/16/08 Dr. Ortiz.
Scheduled for first fill 7/29/08.
Mini goals: 15 pounds lighter by July 31.
30 pounds lighter by September 30.

aubrie

My insurance didn't pay for some of mine and I took out a quick medical loan. I submitted it on my taxes. My tax man said that was fine. Worked for me.

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Banding on 11/19/07 by Dr. Craig Chang in Victoria, Texas.
1st fill (Jan. 11, 2008) = 3 cc
2nd fill (March 14, 2008) = 1 cc
3rd fill (June 13, 2008) = 1 cc
COMPLETE UNFILL (August 6, 2008) due to gallbladder surgery and complications
4th fill (August 20, 2008) = 4 cc Yippee!!!

ikalla

Has anyone specifically taken off medical expenses for the lap band if it was done in Mexico? I couldn't find anything on the IRS website.

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Lap Band 8-4-08
Dr. Aceves, Mexicali, Mexico

Brandy~

I found this page when I went searching for information. Looks like you can write it off even if it's foreign. This is from a medical vacation site:

Taxes

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What I do in my spare time
4/23 Surgery, 2.25/4cc band