Tax Deductions - Fish Oil and/or Glucosamine

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ritchie77

All

I am just lodging my tax return and the following came up with a girl fried of mine whilst discussing fish oil:

She has a form of Psoriasis and the doctor has advised her to take 15 fish oil per day.... I was like "Wow thats a lot, and it must cost you a lot (ie 5,475 tablets per year)"

She agreed but advised "it's ok, my tax agent has included them in my tax return as deductible because my doctor has recommended I take them to keep the psoriasis away"....

Now, she is a school teacher so she could argue she needs to have them to keep the itching and psoriasis away whilst teaching but seriously I am not so sure there is a nexus to gaining income?

It got me thinking, I have had a knee reconstruction and my doctor and surgeon both recommended I take fish oil and Glucosamine to help heal the joints and cartilage etc.... So therefore, do I have a nexus to my income? I am an office worker who often visits various sites so therefore it could be argued I need to be able to walk to/from work?? :D Maybe it is not really deductible but hey, some agents claim anything and everything so I dont want to be left behind!! :confused:

Be good to hear what you guys think...

Thanks
 
ritchie77 said:
some agents claim anything and everything so I dont want to be left behind!! :confused:
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It's in their interest to be aggressive when claiming expenses; they have no accountability. When you get audited, you will be the one the ATO pursues for fraud, not the accountant.

I would be exceedingly surprised if anybody could claim deductibility for non-prescription medications. (Other than those for whom the items constitute stock; I mean consumption.)
 
I thought that if something was recommended by a Doctor for a medical condition then it can be included to make up the rebate? Prescriptions, because they are written by a GP to start with, are always included if you reach the limit. Are we talking medical expenses rebate or actual deductions? There is a difference.
 
Leikela said:
They're not deductible - I suspect she or you may be mixing it up with the medical expenses offset.
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Agree.

There may be a case with a decently worded letter form the relevant medical specialists that at that dose it can form part of the out of pocket medical expenses that after a certain dollar amount (I think it may be $1500 for a family) then 20 % may be offset in the tax return.

I also take fish oil daily and glucosamine and some others. I don't claim anything other than out of pocket scripts, procedures, medical/hospital fees, etc. These days we rarely even get to $1500. In the past we have and used the offset that Leikela refers to.

Personally not worth the drama of the ATO uncovering such skeletons in your "expense claims closet" IMHO. May gibve them cause to scrutinise further and apply the full letter of the LAW.

Ritchie77, your friend needs to investigate the application of this in some detail, or get a ruling.
 
I was talking purely deductions only.... not the offset or medicare rebate!

The deductions is claimed because she requires the fish oil to reduce psoriasis per doctor's recommendations. Don't think she has any sort of letter?
 
Well can't see any argument for it as a deduction, with or without a letter from the doctor. She's a teacher, so can't be itchy? Big deal, you can't have a lot of illnesses for a lot of jobs. There was a case of a pilot who wanted to claim his gym membership as a deduction, the gym being recommended by a doctor. Pilots have to have a certain level of fitness or they lose their medical and without that they can't fly. This guy was overweight and at risk of losing his medical which would have meant an end of his income. Even that deduction was denied. The best I can see is she can use it towards her medical costs for the rebate.

You can put anything you want in your tax return, but good luck when you get audited.
 
ritchie77 said:
I was talking purely deductions only.... not the offset or medicare rebate!

The deductions is claimed because she requires the fish oil to reduce psoriasis per doctor's recommendations. Don't think she has any sort of letter?
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Why would she be entitled to a deduction for recommended medical treatment? Medical treatment is a private matter and not generally deductible. I don't even think if you're an athlete and injure yourself that you can claim the costs of medical treatment.

She may however be eligible for the tax offset. (Sorry to mention it after you said you're not talking about that. ;))
 
medications not deductable....

speeding fines aren't deductable....

next you'll tell me my personal foxtel isnt dedecutable....

what's the world coming too :D
 
Agreed - Ihave defenitely been proved right!

Anyway, it is her responsibility and the tax return has already been lodged by the agent... Not sure if I should mention these findings to her now because she ,ey be very upset :(

Thanks guys for your input!
 
This has been an interesting thread. Here's a question. If the doctor has prescribed medication for "work related stress" is that medication then tax deductable?

Looking forward to a reply on this.
 
I need to eat every day in order to have energy to work and derive my income. I am sure if we ask my doc he'll recommend that I keep eating food to stay alive. Can I claim all my food consumption as tax deductible?
 
attrill said:
This has been an interesting thread. Here's a question. If the doctor has prescribed medication for "work related stress" is that medication then tax deductable?

Looking forward to a reply on this.
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Nope, it is still a personal issue. Unless you have gone on workcover, in which case the employer/workcover might cover it.
 
I think the only way you could claim certain foods, dietry supplements, health products, is if you are a professional athlete and need to perform at an elite level in order to make an income.
 
BlackSpider said:
I think the only way you could claim certain foods, dietry supplements, health products, is if you are a professional athlete and need to perform at an elite level in order to make an income.
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The thing is, all those items can be consumed by the average person too.
 
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