tax deductions | Autism PDD

No, I agree. I have spent LOTS of money in educational stuff for my son that I would never have purchasse for an NT child (okay, well I might have purchased some - but nowhere NEAR what I have). For instance (this is a minor example), they are working on patterns in my ds' kindergarten class. He was having problems with it so I spent .00 on getting manipulatives from Scholastic to help with that. That is but one minor example of things I do throughout the year that probably add up into a lot of money. I see something at the store, or on a book order and if it has to do with something we are working on - I get it to help.

And we have done music therapy/classes, tumbling (which I wouldn't have done for an NT boy probably), PRIVATE swim lessons (which I DEFINITELY would not have done for an NT child - they are HORRENDOUSLY expensive!), etc. I tried to get swim lessons reimbursed for our health care reimbursement account and failed - even with letters from the PT and PM&R doc stating that it was medically necessary!

So, I'm going to doubt that we get any tax deductions for any of that. I guess some people would say we shouldn't - but those expenses add up REALLY fast. And that's on top of social skills groups (which we used to have to pay out of pocket), PT, OT, etc.

Our expenses have thankfully gone down some since we moved here. The school is providing more services and since ds is in all-day kindergarten - we just don't have the time in ds' day to do a lot of activities. We're pretty much limited to private swim lessons on Saturday mornings.

It would be very nice and helpful if we did get a break though!

Here's a link to all the medical expenses you can deduct:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf

As previously noted, only the expense that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted
gross income are deductible. Look carefully under the "Special Education"
category, as well as the "Therapy" category. In addition, your mileage to
and from therapy appointments is deductible. Also, if you attended any
conferences last year specific to your child's disability, the cost may be
deductible. It can be tricky deducting supplies. Please read the above
publication carefully to know if any supplies you have purchased for your
child are deductible.

As always, when in doubt, seek advise from a professional.

I know of the medical expenses, but how about for things that we pay for to address their unique needs, (sensory issues, alarms, fencing, music therapy)? I know I have spent so much money this year outside of medical and dental. Teachers get to write off supplies they need for the classroom-just wondering if there was any tax break for parents of special needs children. Not looking to be devious, but just wondering if there is anything else out there... We also deduct day-care costs for the kids if they don't go with us, tolls, and prescriptions. But like WImom said, your expenses must meet a certain percentage of you income, 7.5% I think?

I found the following about deductions for medical and dental expenses:

http://www.quizlaw.com/federal_income_tax/how_much_of_my_med ical_and_den.php

While the tax laws allow you to deduct your medical and dental expenses, there is a limit to this deduction - the so-called 7.5% floor. You can only deduct those medical and dental expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. This is best understood by the following example:

Assume you have calculated your medical and dental expenses for 2006 as totaling ,000 and your adjusted gross income as ,000. This means that ,000 of your medical and dental expenses cannot be deducted (because ,000 is 7.5% of your ,000 adjusted gross income) and you can only include the remaining ,000 in your itemized deductions.

The only time this 7.5% floor does not apply is to your health insurance premiums, if you are self-employed. In that situation, you can deduct 100% of your premiums.