sethb[at]panix.com (Seth) wrote:

- quote -

The law used to be the opposite, until Congress decided to change it.

Stu

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In article <ed2d8246-6df7-4f78-8b45-ecec530baef5[at]l33g2000pri.googlegroups.com> ,
<birdwatcher2008[at]gmail.com> wrote:

- quote -

And here is a bit more of the law:

(9) Cosmetic surgery.

(A) In general.-- The term "medical care" does not include cosmetic
surgery or other similar procedures, unless the surgery or procedure
is necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly
related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from
an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease.

(B) Cosmetic surgery defined.-- For purposes of this paragraph, the
term "cosmetic surgery" means any procedure which is directed at
improving the patient's appearance and does not meaningfully promote
the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or
disease.

That looks rather definitive.

Seth

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<birdwatcher2008[at]gmail.com> wrote
- quote -




Since I can't attach any seriousness to the assertions in a video, no
serious answer is offered:



Some might be depressed, but the rest of us are in denial.





- quote -



I haven't lost my good looks, I've just disguised them from the view of
others.



Being serious for a sec:

I'd rather be depressed over my old ugly face than be depressed over the
trouble caused by taking a deduction when it clearly says a deduction is not
allowed. I can't control the first one, but I can control the second one.




If you watch enough yoo-toobe videos you'll find one that will validate your
every desire.



--
Paul A. Thomas, CPA
Watkinsville, Georgia

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<birdwatcher2008[at]gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ed2d8246-6df7-4f78-8b45-ecec530baef5[at]l33g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
- quote -


If I cannot deduct legitimate education expenses to qualify me to be more
productive, then the heck with your face lift.

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<birdwatcher2008[at]gmail.com> wrote:

- quote -

The last time I heard this argument it was from a man who called his wife
"my woman." Oddly enough her self esteem had fallen on hard times after the
blow you away knockout he so lovingly described had suffered the routine
effects of age and turned into, in his eyes, a crone. One could argue that
in her case a divorce lawyer would be an expense to cure a disease.

Much cheaper than either psychiatry or cosmetic surgery is a current picture
of Phyllis Diller with the caption "Don't Let This Happen to You!" taped on
her dressing table mirror.

IMO no, the argument doesn't cut it, so to speak.

--
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD

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birdwatcher2008[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

Please post a written transcript or summary of this "expert's" comments,
or at least the person's name and affiliation so others might do their
own research and verification. The newsgroup guidelines indicate that
"submissions that are references to a URL not known to the Moderator to
be a legitimate tax site" should be rejected, and while I'm not
advocating that extreme in this case, I don't think requests for serious
commentary from anonymous posters (you) regarding YouTube videos that
may disappear tomorrow are in the spirit of this moderated newsgroup.
(Just my opinion, of course..)

Nevertheless, here is one observation: if income-tax deductibility is
the deciding factor in one's decision to have plastic surgery, and this
person will sign off on one's tax return as a paid preparer and offer a
guarantee against penalties, interest, and extra taxes owed, then by all
means go for it.

-Mark Bole

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This is an expert question.

It is about plastic surgery. As you know, aging isn't easy and some
people are getting depressed just thinking about the their old face.
Plastic surgery is expensive but offers some relief. But you can't
deduct it from the taxes? Despite it would take of your depression and
make you happier to work and produce?

If you go to the psychiatrists because you are depressed over looking
old and having lost your good looks, he charges you high bills, find
out that it is all your father's fault and describes you dangerous
drugs which cause other health troubles and could even result in your
suicide. But you can deduct it from the taxes. The drugs make you kind
of drunk and you can't work as productive as you can without. You are
not even allowed to drive a car when taken these drugs.

This tax expert says that people can deduct their cosmetic surgery
also if the reason is not caused by a malformation. And isn't aging a
trauma? Many say so.

Please listen to this short clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evK1r...eature=related


Please let me know your thoughts to this particular matter. What do
you think about the observation and argument of this tax expert?

Is it just me or do you think that some people can write their general
plastic surgery off and others not?

Robin

And here is the law.

§ 213. Medical, dental, etc., expenses

(a) Allowance of deduction
There shall be allowed as a deduction the expenses paid during the
taxable year, not compensated for by insurance or otherwise, for
medical care of the taxpayer, his spouse, or a dependent (as defined
in section 152, determined without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)
(2), and (d)(1)(B) thereof), to the extent that such expenses exceed
7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.
(b) Limitation with respect to medicine and drugs
An amount paid during the taxable year for medicine or a drug shall be
taken into account under subsection (a) only if such medicine or drug
is a prescribed drug or is insulin.
(c) Special rule for decedents
(1) Treatment of expenses paid after death
For purposes of subsection (a), expenses for the medical care of the
taxpayer which are paid out of his estate during the 1-year period
beginning with the day after the date of his death shall be treated as
paid by the taxpayer at the time incurred.
(2) Limitation
Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the amount paid is allowable under
section 2053 as a deduction in computing the taxable estate of the
decedent, but this paragraph shall not apply if (within the time and
in the manner and form prescribed by the Secretary) there is filed—
(A) a statement that such amount has not been allowed as a deduction
under section 2053, and
(B) a waiver of the right to have such amount allowed at any time as a
deduction under section 2053.
(d) Definitions
For purposes of this section—
(1) The term "medical care" means amounts paid—
(A) for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of
disease, or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of
the body,

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