Is The Medical Expense Tax Deduction For You?

What is the Medical Expense Tax Deduction and who can claim?

The medical expense tax deduction is available and may benefit you if you have purchased prescription medication or purchased medical supplies or paid for a nursing home during the tax year.

These expenses can be claimed for yourself and or your family members. In order to claim medical expenses, they must be more than 3% of your net income or $2,237.00, whichever amount is less.

What medical tax deductions are eligible?

The list is quite extensive so this is just a brief listing of some of the medical expenses that can be claimed on your income tax return, if prescribed by a medical professional.

As long as you have not and will not be reimbursed for the expenses claimed.

see link for more eligible deductions and more detailed information

• Air conditioner
• Air purifier
• Ambulance
• Animal (ie Guide Dog)
• Attendant care expenses
• Baby breathing monitor
• Bathroom aids
• Cancer treatment
• Crutches
• Dental services
• Drugs
• Eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Furnace – electric or sealed combustion (for a person with a severe chronic respiratory ailment)
• Gluten free products – see link below for more detailed information
• Group or nursing home
• Hospital bed
• Hospital expenses
• In vitro fertility program
• Kidney machine
• Laser eye surgery
• Lift or transportation equipment
• Medical marijuana or marijuana seeds
• Organ transplant
• Pacemaker
• Payments to a medical professional
• Premiums paid to private health services plans
• Prescription drugs and medications
• Treatment center for addictions
• Wheelchair and scooter as well as the carriers
• Wigs

Click here for more eligible deductions and more detailed information on the list above

What medical expenses are not eligible?

Cosmetic procedures done to enhance your appearance are not eligible unless medically required due to a disease, a deformity or an accident.

A brief list of other expenses that do not qualify are:

• Teeth whitening
• Gym or fitness fees
• Health programs
• Provincial or Territorial medical premiums
• Vitamins (except vitamin B12) or over the counter medications, even if they are prescribed by a doctor
• Non prescription birth control devices
• Blood pressure monitors
• Diaper service
• Health or organic foods
• Hot tub

What is the cut off date to claim?

You can claim tax deductions for medical expenses that were paid in any 12 month time frame ending in 2018 as long as they weren’t claimed for in 2017.

In order to claim, the medical expenses must be more than 3% of your net income or $2,302.00, whichever amount is less.

Expenses for you, your spouse or common law partner and your dependant children can be claimed on line 330.

Expenses for other dependants (grandchild; or your or your spouse’s parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew who are dependant on you for support) can be claimed on line 331.

Medical and Disability Guide

Income Tax Act - Medical Expense and Disability Tax Credits and Attendant Care Expense Deduction

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