If you thought for a minute that our incredible G-Free Foodie, K.C. Pomering was only good for tantalizing recipes and amazing dietary advice, think again. Turns out her insider knowledge of the gluten-free lifestyle may turn out to be a huge help during tax time!
Did you know that those who have Celiac Disease or an official medical recommendation to live gluten-free may be able to deduct the extra expenses related to their restricted diets? If your total medical expenses for the year exceed 10% (formerly 7.5%) of your adjusted gross income, you may be able to deduct the difference in cost between “regular” food products and gluten-free alternatives.
When looking at total medical expenses, be sure to include doctor and Rx co-pays, insurance, dental, and other expenses that could be used. In other words, be sure to consult a tax professional about your deductions for Celiac Disease costs and write-offs for a gluten-free diet or you may be missing out.
Thanks to K.C., we’ve got a summary of GF tax time tips from National Foundation for Celiac Awareness:
Step 1: Get A Doctor’s Note
Request an official, written Celiac diagnosis or other special diet reccomendation from your doctor.
Submit this documentation with your other completed forms (see Step 4). Make sure to keep a copy for your records!
Step 2: Save Your Receipts
Keep receipts of all gluten-free purchases from grocery stores, bakeries and anywhere else you buy gluten-free items.
Step 3: Break Out the Calculator
List the prices of gluten-free foods compared to those of regular foods. The difference between those prices is tax-deductible. For example, if a pound of wheat flour costs $0.89 and a pound of rice flour costs $3.25, then you may deduct $2.36 for each pound of rice flour purchased.
Products like xanthan gum and sorghum flour are completely tax-deductible as they have no “regular” counterpart but are purchased to meet your dietary needs. Shipping costs for online purchases are also permissible deductions.
Step 4: File Your Claim
Fill out form 1040 schedule A for medical deductions.
Refer to:
- IRS Publication 502
- Revenue Rulings: 55-261, 76-80, 2002-19 and 67 TC 481
- Cohen 38 TC 387
- Flemming TC MEMO 1980 583
- Van Kalb TC MEMO 1978 366
Feel free to cite these references in your tax paperwork. For specific circumstances, contact an accountant or tax professional.
