Question

Can I deduct vet visits for my dog?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
October 11, 2019
1 reply
0 views

He is my emotional support animal for my anxiety disorder, though not a registered service dog that’s been through training. Would I be able to deduct his veterinary visits on my taxes?

A

Anonymous

This is from the IRS Office of Chief Counsel

The costs of buying, training, and maintaining a service animal to assist an individual
with mental disabilities may qualify as medical care if the taxpayer can establish that the
taxpayer is using the service animal primarily for medical care to alleviate a mental
defect or illness and that the taxpayer would not have paid the expenses but for the
disease or illness.

further IRS pub 502 also discusses the deductibility for the costs of guide dogs and other service animals.