Does cosmetic surgery count as a medical expense that you can take off your taxes?

Question

My tax advisor told me that the standard deduction is $5600. He said that if your medical expenses go over that, then you can take them off your taxes. I do not own a home. I am considering getting laser eye surgery or braces/invisalign, but I am not sure if these can be taken off taxes or not? What about plastic surgery, would that count as a medical expense?

Answer 1

Speak to your tax adviser again and if he does not get these answers correct I'd seek a new one. The standard deduction is $5,700 for singles. Yes on eye surgery and Yes on braces. Surprised. The link is a complete list. Cosmetic surgery depends on if it to correct a disfigurement. Not liking wrinkles does not count. The medical expenses count toward tax deductions. It is not subtracting the total of the bill from your adjusted gross income. Deductions for medical begin for the amount of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (Form 1040, line 38).



This phrase means that you must subtract 7.5% (.075) of your adjusted gross income from your medical expenses to figure your medical expense deduction.

Answer 2

Cosmetic surgery isn't deductible. Lasik and braces might qualify as medical rather than cosmetic though. Plastic surgery usually would not qualify.



Did your tax advisor explain that you can only deduct the portion of your medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your AGI? So if your medical expenses for the year are $6000 and your AGI is $50,000, your medical expense deduction is (6000 - (50,000*.075)), or 6000 - 3750, or $2250, not the full $6000. Unless the 2250 plus your other itemized deductions is over $5700 for 2009, you wouldn't itemize so would get no tax benefit from the medical expenses.

Answer 3

Download Publication 502 at irs.gov. Laser eye surgery is to correct an anomaly. Any operation in general that corrects an anomaly should be deductible even that expense be like cosmetic surgery such as implants after a mastectomy. There is "ceiling" of 7.5% of your adjusted gross before any expense can be itemized on schedule A

Answer 4

first of all, you need a new tax advisor. standard deduction varies, depending on filing status (single, head of household, married filing jointly, married filing separate, etc), and age (65 or older), legally blind (extra deduction for that). Also, you have to exceed 7.5% of your AGI for medical expenses in order to deduct the excess (AGI of $40,000, you would need over $3,000 in medical expenses in order to deduct the excess above the $3,000). laser eye surgery and braces are deductible. plastic surgery might or might not be deductible medical expense. plastic surgery to just improve your looks is not deductible, but plastic surgery to fix a condition is deductible. also, if you are an exotic dancer, breast enhancement surgery is a deductible expense (but job related, rather than medical).

Answer 5

For 2009, the standard deduction is $5700.



Laser eye surgery corrects an eye condition. It is not considered cosmetic and can be claimed on your taxes.



Braces, same deal.



Plastic surgery to get, say, a tummy tuck, nose job or boob job isn't deductible.



By the way, did he mention that if you make $20,000, the first 7.5% ($1500) doesn't even count?

Answer 6

See V B's post, and in addition, to answer your question, specificially from is it worth to deduct standpoint:



"He said that if your medical expenses go over that, then you can take them off your taxes."



Not necessarily. Not only you have to jump over the standard deduction amount ($5,700 for 2009), in order for your itemized deduction to serve any purpose, you'd also need to have medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.



For example, if your adjusted income for 2009 is 50,000, the first $3,750 isn't even deductible. And any additional expenses after would still have to jump over the $5,700 standard deduction threshold amount. By then, you'd still only be saving in taxes a fraction of every dollar you are allowed to deduct.

Answer 7

Lab tests for cosmetic surgery are not deductible either. Ditto for the expenses after the surgery.