Tax Break for Breastfeeding

[kaydee0402]

www.parentsociety.com/news-2/current-events/attention-new-moms-there-is-an-irs-tax-break-for-breastfeeding/

FYI.

Now, the catch: in order to deduct such medical expenses, your costs have to exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income

From the article, it sounds like you can include the cost of supplies (such as breast milk bags), meetings with your LC and the cost of lactation workshops.  Not sure if insurance covered breast pumps are included, but if you're interested in the tax break, you can probably check with your insurance company.

[ChickenOnSunday]

Sept 22, 2015 8:47:00 GMT -5 badw0lf said:

I think all medical expenses have to exceed 10%. Before you can deduct them.

This^^^

If you need to spend more than 10% of your adjusted gross income solely to breastfeed than you might want to think about switching to formula. That would be a lot of issues and not a quality of life for mom.

[kaydee0402]

@nolagal, I didn't realize this wasn't a new thing. I saw it on Facebook this morning and thought it might be helpful to someone on here so I decided to share.

ChickenOnSunday, yeah, that would be an insane amount of money we would have to spend before we could qualify. I'm not anywhere near 10% of our income. But someone on here might have a use for it. Though I totally agree, you might as well formula feed at that point.

[natsgirl]

With many pumps being provided for free by insurance I think many people would have a hard time spending 10% of their AGI on breastfeeding supplies. Maybe other medical bills combined would make it easier but I'd have to spend a TON of money to get this tax break. Way more that I could possibly spend on breastfeeding supplies for sure. For anyone who can take advantage that is awesome though!

[kaydee0402]

Sept 22, 2015 11:47:43 GMT -5 badw0lf said:

@natagirl it isn't 10% on only BF supplies. It's that you can now also include BF supplies into that out of pocket medical cost. Which can help you reach 10%.
For example: My therapist doesn't take insurance so each $150 visit (and now BF supplies) may add up to 10% of my AGI.

Exactly.  We have awesome insurance and a super low deductible, but for those that have a higher deductible or for those whose insurance does not cover LC visits, classes or meeting costs, it's probably much easier to meet 10% when combined with supply costs.

[MapleMomma]

Sept 22, 2015 11:47:43 GMT -5 badw0lf said:

@natagirl it isn't 10% on only BF supplies. It's that you can now also include BF supplies into that out of pocket medical cost. Which can help you reach 10%.
For example: My therapist doesn't take insurance so each $150 visit (and now BF supplies) may add up to 10% of my AGI.

Yes. It's all medical costs not covered by insurance. So for example last year my husband had a non insurance covered surgery and we were able to claim this. If I had been breastfeeding, I could have added on the expenses for that.

[natsgirl]

Sept 22, 2015 11:47:43 GMT -5 badw0lf said:

@natagirl it isn't 10% on only BF supplies. It's that you can now also include BF supplies into that out of pocket medical cost. Which can help you reach 10%.
For example: My therapist doesn't take insurance so each $150 visit (and now BF supplies) may add up to 10% of my AGI.

Yes. I did realize that. And it's awesome that it can be applied toward that for those who do spend 10% (or more) of their AGI on medical expenses. That would just work out to a crazy amount of medical expenses for me (I realize that I am both lucky to be well compensated and have very good insurance). I definitely wasn't trying to brag about that. Just saying that could be quite a bit of expenses for some people to use the credit but it's totally awesome it exists for those who can benefit.

[Deleted]

Insurance premiums can also count for this deduction. For those that buy individual insurance, that can easily add up to 10%.