Tax Deductible Prescriptions?

[hannahlou857]

Hi,
I'm an actress and I have recently developed quite bad acne. It was losing me a lot of jobs as obviously no-one wants to see a pizzaface on screen!
I've been prescribed Roaccutane (an acne medication) and it is working well, clearing my skin and as a result I've landed two jobs (yay!).
My question after all this waffle is, can I write off the cost of prescriptions as a business expense? My body is after all my business.

Thanks

[tamborine]

Yes....just include with expense receipts as usual not cash receipts for tax return.

[Skyline D]

Mmm, debatable.

For a tax deduction to apply the expense has to be "wholly and exclusively for business purposes". I think you'd have a hard job convincing the taxman in the event of an investigation that the cost of medical prescriptions is a business expense. The self employed builder who is off sick and not earning wouldn't be allowed the cost of flu medicines on prescription to get him back earning again. Personally I don't think the Revenue would allow acne treatment either.

Of course, they'll never actually know what you are claiming for unless they select you for random audit. Chances are you'd get away with it and even on investigation they might be willing to meet you halfway on it.

[cruciverbals]

I have a client who is an actress who submitted claims for clothes for me to put on her tax return. i said that she could't.

She then told me they were exclusively for parts she played and were discarded after the show and were never worn by her again -so I claimed them!

Gym fees were also claimed on the basis that her agent said she musy lose weight or she would not get any work.
I thought that was OK as long as the fees were not deducted after she has lost the weight!

Dave: [email protected]

[Skyline D]

Clothes specifically bought for a role I wouldn't have a problem with and I can't believe the taxman would either. Of course whether you actually genuinely believe that she threw them away afterward is another matter but if she did then that would be fine.

The gym fees? Contentious but more likely to be allowed than a prescription I'd have thought. The charges of a personal trainer are certainly allowed for professional sportsmen. I'd actually have thought if the original poster bought the same stuff over the counter and claimed it was necessary equipment for performance of work she'd be more likely to be allowed it than getting it on prescription. The latter implies a medical need for the treatment and therefore that it isn't wholly for work purposes.