Tweet
I claim the usual PD deductions, guns ammo gear etc but i am wondering if i can claim my gym membership and supplements? Its required i be physically fit to do my job...
-
-
Get a doctor's prescription for them. -
I'd check with a tax expert first. You don't want to deal with an IRS audit."Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." B.Franklin,1759Comment
-
No. Gym and vitamins are not deductible. Neither are guns or ammo for personal use.
Comment
-
Nope, I think gym is considered recreation, but therapy or rehabilitation might be okay (rehab for back pain, shoulder, etc..)Comment
-
My understanding is that gym memberships/fees/costs ARE deductible (health/fitness/training). Not sure about supplements (my guess would be probably not).
No. Gym and vitamins are not deductible. Neither are guns or ammo for personal use.
Took a quick look - didn't see anything in there about gym costs at all.Comment
-
A quick search provides multiple sources indicating that they are not deductible.
Physical therapy for a specific injury could be, but not general exercise. Same goes for supplements for general health.
Comment
-
"Health Spa Expenses
You cannot deduct health spa expenses, even if there is a job requirement to stay in excellent physical condition, such as might be required of a law enforcement officer."
Top right side of page 15.
That being said, there was no definition given for "health spa" and I would argue that a standard fitness gym is not the same animal. Also, IF a standard fitness gym membership is NOT deductible but training, self-defense training, arrest/control training, etc IS - many gyms I've seen, even YMCA's offer some kinds of martial arts classes...Comment
-
A gym membership is not required to maintain physical conditioning; consequently, it is not generally deductible.Comment
-
IRS publication 502 covers medical expenses
Also, found this from PORAC
Comment
-
All my guns can be used for on duty/back up, and you need ammo to practice with right?No. Gym and vitamins are not deductible. Neither are guns or ammo for personal use.
http://ljpr.com/site/images/media/Ta...e_Officers.pdfComment
-
Thanks that pretty much sums it upIRS publication 502 covers medical expenses
Also, found this from PORAC
http://digital.911media.com/i/105500/29Comment
-
from June 2010
"A taxpayer cannot deduct costs associated with using a gym to improve general health and well-being and not to cure a specific disease or ailment. A taxpayer may be able to deduct the gym fees as a medical expense if the taxpayer can establish that:
• A physician diagnosed the taxpayer with a specific disease
• The taxpayer uses the gym to treat the specific disease
• The taxpayer would not incur the gym fees but for the specific disease"
Well, it looks like I'm dead wrong on this one (thanks for the heads up!).
In my defense, all my gym memberships are to martial arts schools/training facilities so I mistakenly ASSumed my deductions would also be applicable to "regular" fitness gyms... That being said, I would argue that taking martial arts classes at a "regular" fitness gym would make that deductible too...
Comment
-
But would that be deductible if you did other workouts in addition to the martial arts? Probably not. A regular gym's principal purpose and membership goes towards general exercise. It would be harder to explain that vs a martial arts school.
Think about how a bureaucrat would look at things and how they would seem on paper which the bureaucrat is pushing.Last edited by Max Power!; 12-20-2013, 9:56 PM.Comment
There are currently 6787 users online. 148 members and 6639 guests.
Most users ever online was 239,041 at 10:39 PM on 02-14-2026.
Comment