ASK MICKEY: Can my Dad write off his service dog?
ANSWER: Yes, under certain circumstances and within limits, costs to buy, train, and maintain a service animal for a disabled person, can be deducted as a medical expense. Service dogs are working animals for people with disabilities.
An individual service animal is trained specifically to help someone who is disabled perform tasks they otherwise would not be able to do.
Common examples of work service animals do are:
– Guiding blind people through their daily lives
– Pulling a wheelchair through the day
– Protecting a person who is having a seizure
The limitations being that as a medical expense these costs must be combined with all other medical expenses and they need to exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income to be deductible as an itemized deduction.
Itemized deductions only reduce taxes if they exceed the standard deduction. They will only benefit you if your medical expense are high and your income is low.
Added benefits of owning a certified service animal
Texas as well as other states provide that the following are exempt from Texas sales tax if you have an exemption certificate:
· Guide dog, including food and grooming.
· Harness for guide dog
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