YMCA membership, tax deductible?

[Propagate]

Has anyone heard of this? One of the trainers at my local YMCA gym said the other day, to remember to put through the gym membership on my tax return as, because the YMCA is a charity, gym membership fees are tax deductible.

I wasn't sure this could be the case, so did some Googling and turned up nothing. That in itself leads me to think it's not right. I'd have thought YMCA themselves would advertise it on their website if it were true, as a good incentive to sign up more members.

Does anyone on here know if it is an allowable claim?

I know charity donations as such are deductible, but at the end of the day, the gym membership is payment for a service that you are receiving, and not simply a charitable donation.

I would be interested to find out if it is allowed, as it's a fair bit of money for the two of us over a year.

Cheers.

 

[dan c]

No, I would say it's not deductible, as you are paying for a private service (the gym membership) rather than donating to a charity.

Just like buying second hand clothes from the Salvos store is not deductible, either.

 

[Propagate]

No, I would say it's not deductible, as you are paying for a private service (the gym membership) rather than donating to a charity.

Just like buying second hand clothes from the Salvos store is not deductible, either.

That's what I was thinking. I could understand if say a portion of your fee was classed as a donation, but if that were the case, you'd think you'd get a tax receipt from them for that part.

As you don't, and there is no literature to say otherwise on their information, then I'd say it was a paid service and no deductible.

I should probably contact he gym and let politely request they memo their staff before half the town puts in incorrect tax returns.

 

[Terryw]

No, I would say it's not deductible, as you are paying for a private service (the gym membership) rather than donating to a charity.

Just like buying second hand clothes from the Salvos store is not deductible, either.

Damn. I will have to amend 4 tax of returns now@!

 

[Rob G.]

Ha ha .... you could put it down as a cost of managing your tax affairs !!

Ahhhh no wait a minute, the gym trainer would have to be a registered tax agent for that ... damn !

Even if he was, nobody would give him insurance with advice like that !!

Cheers,

Rob

 

[Propertunity]

This reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons:

Bart (to the mafia boss): Uh, say, are you guys crooks?
Fat Tony: Bart, is it wrong to steal a loaf of bread to feed your starving family?
Bart: No.
Fat Tony: Well, suppose you got a large starving family. Is it wrong to steal a truckload of bread to feed them?
Bart: Uh uh.
Fat Tony: And, what if your family don't like bread? They like... cigarettes?
Bart: I guess that's okay.
Fat Tony: Now, what if instead of giving them away, you sold them at a price that was practically giving them away. Would that be a crime, Bart?
Bart: Hell, no.

 

[jaycee]

No, I would say it's not deductible, as you are paying for a private service (the gym membership) rather than donating to a charity.

Just like buying second hand clothes from the Salvos store is not deductible, either.

I like this answer

 

[Ian (WA)]

Propagate,

I know it's disappointing not to be able to claim the fees, but look at it this way:

Young man, there's no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy.

Young man, there's a place you can go.
I said, young man, when you're short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

You can get yourself cleaned, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel ...

Young man, are you listening to me?
I said, young man, what do you want to be?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams.
But you got to know this one thing!

No man does it all by himself.
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,
And just go there, to the y.m.c.a.
I'm sure they can help you today.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

You can get yourself cleaned, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel ...

Young man, I was once in your shoes.
I said, I was down and out with the blues.
I felt no man cared if I were alive.
I felt the whole world was so tight ...

That's when someone came up to me,
And said, young man, take a walk up the street.
There's a place there called the y.m.c.a.
They can start you back on your way.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...

Y-m-c-a ... you'll find it at the y-m-c-a.

Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down.
Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.

Y-m-c-a ... you'll find it at the y-m-c-a.

Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down.
Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.

Y-m-c-a ... just go to the y-m-c-a.

Young man, young man, are you listening to me?
Young man, young man, what do you wanna be?

 

[Propagate]

Propagate,

I know it's disappointing not to be able to claim the fees, but look at it this way:

Young man, there's no need to feel down.

Hahhahaha......too good mate. Too good.

Cheers.

 

[redwing]

How about asking your accountant "How can I deduct a gym membership".

Some health insurance policies used to give you a rebate?

I would think it would only apply to SAS, Firemen, Specialist Coppers etc

I found this on the forum posted by Corsa

Clarification on treatment of fitness expenses

An employee required to have a high degree of physical fitness to carry out a job may be entitled to deduct expenses associated wtih keeping fit.

Eg

Police academy physical training instructor are entitled to deduct fitness expenses (TD 93/114, TR 95/13)
Performing artist such as a circus trapeze artist is entitled to deduct fitness expenses (TR 95/20)
A professional footballer contractually obliged to keep fit and obey training instructions is entitled to deduct fitness expenses
Professional dancers are entitled to fitness deductions
Teachers, even PE Teachers are not entitled to such a fitness deduction (TR 95/14)
Defense force members fitness expenses are not deductible except in special circumstances (TR 95/17)
Security Guards fitness expenses not deductible except in special circumstances (ID 2001/237)
A pilot who undertook a fitness course to help him lose weight was denied a deduction for the cost of the course, even though he had failed a medical and had to lose weight to keep his job (TD 93/112)

Where a deduction is allowed, deductions may include transport costs, depreciation of equipment, fitness course costs, gym membership fiees and protective sport footwear, but generally not the cost of conventional clothing (TD 93/114)