Cindy asks:My two beloved cats have had a lot of medical bills this year……close to $6000. Sometimes I pay with a check to the vet and the check is written payable to “Dr. Lastname”. Other times I pay with a credit card and it shows up “Medical Center”. Can these fees be deducted as medical expenses. Thanks alot, Cindy

My reply:Hello Cindy. I’m reading into your message that you realize these bills are not medical expenses that you incurred for yourself, spouse and/or dependents; thus they would not be deductible on Schedule A as an itemized deduction.

Just because you cannot tell by simply reading who the payment was made to does not make it deductible.

If however you normally file a Schedule F and have appropriately reported these cat as assets of your profit earning farm business, then they would be deductible; however, based on your email it appears these cats are your personal pets and not assets of a profit earning farm business.

I wrote an article last Feb. regarding Deductible Medical Expenses, which you may be interested in reading. Best wishes, Gina www.GLGcpa.com