Loans for Plastic Surgery can be a Tax Write Off for Business Owners

Technically, cosmetic surgery falls into the category of personal appearance expenses, although it lives in a kind of gray area. This is because permanent modification of your body is difficult to classify as solely for work; unlike a special costume, you cannot “take it off” when you go out.
If the likelihood of being able to pay off other personal appearance expenses is rare, deducting the cost of your cosmetic surgery is nearly impossible, despite the well-known case of Cynthia Hess (aka "Chesty Love"), an adult artist who claimed with Success your breast augmentation as a business expense in the early nineties.
It is also worth mentioning that for any surgery you should consult with a specialist in the field, first is specialized medical care because your health is at risk, or worse still the disfigurement of your body, then your need, that is why here I mention 2 aspects that you should Take into account that the IRS considers suitable for valid commercial. Deduction

• Personal goods, services, or enhancements must be necessary as a condition of your employment (for example, a uniform).
• Personal goods, services, or enhancements must be unsuitable for everyday use.

Face-lifts, liposuction, electrolysis and other procedures done to enhance your appearance are not deductible medical expenses.
Unless your doctor says you need a nose job to treat breathing problems, for example, it becomes a deductible medical expense.
Recall that the IRS says you can deduct the cost of plastic surgery if it is needed to improve or correct a deformity resulting from a congenital anomaly, an injury sustained in an accident, trauma, or a disfiguring disease.
Publication 502 (2019), Medical and Dental Expenses
Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of diseases, and for the purpose of affecting any part or function of the body. These expenses include payments for medical legal services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical professionals. They include the costs of diagnostic equipment, supplies, and devices needed for these purposes.
Health care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent physical or mental illness or disability. They do not include expenses that are simply beneficial to health in general, such as vitamins or vacations, surgeries that are not only for the benefit of your health, not for appearance use.
Medical expenses include the premiums they pay for insurance that covers health care expenses and the amounts they pay for transportation to receive medical care. Medical expenses also include amounts paid for qualified long-term care services and limited amounts paid for any qualified long-term care insurance contracts.
Tax deduction or health insurance coverage is sometimes the deciding factor behind our patients' decision to undergo plastic surgery, many San Francisco patients often wonder if their surgery is tax deductible, and the answer it depends on the circumstances behind your cosmetic procedure.
In order for your plastic surgery to be covered by health insurance and to be tax deductible, you will need complete documentation indicating that your procedure was medically necessary. There are many plastic surgery procedures that can be considered medically necessary, while also enhancing your appearance.
Some of the cosmetic procedures, which could be considered tax deductible, include:

1. Breast reduction
2. Breast reconstruction
3. Rhinoplasty
4. Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
5. Feminization surgery

Breast cancer survivors often undergo breast reconstruction or breast implants after a mastectomy. Many insurance providers deem it necessary, which means it is tax deductible. Breast augmentation for uneven breasts can also be considered a medical expense. This applies to those undergoing blepharoplasties to correct vision problems caused by droopy eyelids and nose surgery for a deviated septum. Transgender surgeries and hormone therapy can also be a tax deduction.
The best way to know if your cosmetic procedure is tax deductible is to talk to our plastic surgeon in your country, and to find out if you are eligible to deduct your taxes, remember that your deduction for any medical expense is 7.5 percent
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COUNTRIES THAT ALLOW TAX DEDUCTIBLE PLASTIC SURGERY

​ As the pandemic affected almost the entire country, the whole world, the surgeries did not stop being performed, appointments and even virtual surgeries were implemented, with additional cost for all types of cosmetic surgery treatment in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Spain or Switzerland.

​Cosmetic surgery refers to an operation that is performed not to treat a disease, but to help the patient achieve their ideal of beauty. There is no medical need for this, so health insurance companies rarely pay for voluntary intervention or surgery.
Complications that occur within the insured period after the operation can be treated for up to three years. The client has the option of a one- or three-year coverage.
All treatments for complications are insured as long as they are not treatments to fulfill the initial treatment contract or treatments resulting from a liability claim against the doctor.
Tax deduction in the US for plastic surgeries?
As tax season progresses, businesses across the country are wondering what deductions they can itemize before filing. Some companies have made some amazing and creative deductions that have been accepted by the IRS or the US Tax Court.
Some of these may not apply to your business, but as tax deadlines approach, let's seize the opportunity to indulge in the creativity and absurdity of business law.
While these are interesting and fun, be sure to consult your accountant or tax professional before claiming them as deductions.
Example:
A tax court case in 1988 opened the door for adult entertainers to deduct breast augmentation surgery, according to TurboTax. A stripper claimed a $2,088 deduction for her surgery, which was initially denied by the IRS but accepted by the tax court when she appealed. The court ruled that the augmentation was a legitimate business expense because it could result in bigger tips and more profit for the stripper.
Continuation: According to IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, it explains that in general, you cannot deduct what you spend on plastic surgery. “This includes any procedure that is directed at improving the patient’s appearance and doesn’t meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease,” says the IRS’s website.
Just because most taxpayers cannot deduct medical expenses for plastic surgery, that’s not all-inclusive. In certain situations, taxpayers can deduct medical expenses they pay for plastic surgery if it’s medically necessary to improve a deformity that arose from, or is directly related to a disfiguring disease, a personal injury accident, trauma (e.g. domestic violence or a sport injury), or a congenital abnormality.
For example.
If a woman undergoes surgery that removes all or part of her breast for cancer treatment, and she needs breast reconstruction, she can deduct the cost of her surgery as it would be a tax-deductible procedure.
What Procedures Are Deductible?
As we mentioned earlier, a breast reconstruction after a mastectomy can be included as a medical expense. Other procedures that may be deducted include breast reductions and scar revision among others. A tummy tuck or liposuction? Now those are not tax-deductible unfortunately, though many patients wish they were!
If you have a condition, like belpharoptosis (a droopy eyelid that can affect vision), it may be covered by your insurance if it affects your quality of life. To learn more about medically necessary plastic.
Other important concepts:
There are some plastic surgery operations where the individual may not meet the criteria of the insurance company and therefore the patient's insurance will not pay for it. The main one is probably breast reduction surgery for a woman with back pain secondary to large breasts.
Insurance companies set their own rules, including the weight of breast tissue to be removed based on the woman's height and weight. If a woman with back, neck or shoulder pain had to pay for breast reduction surgery out of pocket, she should be able to deduct the cost of the surgery on her tax form.
Examples on Legal basis of deductions in expenses of appearance and / or plastic surgeries based on the IRS:
Let's remember to know that cosmetic surgery, in some cases, is an IRS-approved tax deduction. However, don't get too excited. Costs related to maintaining and changing your personal appearance are only tax deductible in certain circumstances.
Clothing: Work wear is a commonly denied tax deduction. For clothing to qualify as a tax deduction, clothing must meet industry standards and must be essential to the operation of your business. The basic rule of thumb for this deduction is that if the uniform or clothing can be worn outside of work, you should not deduct it. This may be a gray area, but here are some clothing expenses that can be deducted in the right circumstances, for example:

• Protective clothing
• Uniforms
• Costumes

A new suit or dress wouldn’t be tax deductible because you could wear the attire outside of work.
Dry cleaning: The cost of dry cleaning is tax deductible as long as the clothes are deductible too (only used for work).

​ Cosmetic surgery:
Claiming the cost of cosmetic surgery as a tax deduction is almost always a no-go, but it has been done in extremely specific circumstances.
For example, an exotic dancer was able to claim the cost of breast augmentation on the grounds that her surgery was a requirement for employment (the surgery made her more successful in her profession), and that the surgery was unsuitable for day-to-day use (the augmentation was such that she was going to have her breasts reduced once her stage career was over).
​The same line of thinking would apply to Botox too. Generally, it would not be tax deductible (unless you could prove it was for work and didn’t also help your personal life, which is unlikely).

​Body enhancement:
The IRS doesn’t allow anyone to deduct the cost of simply staying healthy, but they will allow certain professionals to deduct expenses related to their personal appearance
For instance, bodybuilders can deduct the cost of body oils and other products that they use to improve the appearance of their skin. Professional athletes can deduct the cost of sports coaching or training for events and competitions. However, athletes generally can’t deduct the cost of dietary or nutritional supplements, because the benefits are personal as well as professional.

​Makeup
​The rules surrounding makeup as a tax deduction are strict. Similar to the clothing deduction, you can write off makeup used for stage or photo shoots, but not if you wear the same makeup outside of work. Any makeup purchases that are for photo shoots or shows should be purchased from professional suppliers (rather than the drugstore) if you plan to claim the cost.

The same line of thinking would apply to Botox too. Generally, it would not be tax deductible (unless you could prove it was for work and didn’t also help your personal life, which is unlikely).
​Hair care and haircuts:
​Similar to makeup costs, hair care expenses only qualify as a tax deduction when they are specifically for work-related photo shoots or shows.
If you order your products from a professional supplier and only use them for performances or shoot, then you can claim the deduction. However, a haircut wouldn’t be deductible because you’ll take the new 'do with you outside of work.
Salon expenses: By now you get the idea. Salon expenses can only be deducted if it’s strictly for work. You can’t get a mani-pedi and claim it’s to help you do better at the office.
Important data: Plastic surgery is expensive, and more people are undergoing cosmetic procedures. In 2017, Americans spent more than $8.5 billion on surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
And with many procedures, like liposuction, tummy tucks and face-lifts, costing thousands of dollars, it’s not surprising that people are looking for ways to finance plastic surgery.
But what if you need or want a cosmetic procedure and can’t afford to pay cash? If your health insurance doesn’t help cover all or any of the costs, there are a number of options to look into for plastic surgery financing.
An Australian glamour model wants plastic and cosmetic surgery to be considered 'tax deductible business expenses' for people in her line of work.
'These procedures can cost thousands of dollars every year - and should be seen as a business investment like other tools of trade,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
The model expressed that "Getting a cosmetic surgery like Botox or a plastic surgery like breast augmentation is an investment, but all the sale of the model's pocket"
How do you get a tax exemption for owning a business?
When you do your tax return, you can claim most business expenses as tax deductions to reduce your taxable income. Most money you get from running your business is assessable income (income subject to tax).
For tax-exempt eligibility, the organization's purpose must not be to generate profit. The owners or founders of a tax-exempt organization cannot receive profits from the organization. Though you may be tax exempt from federal income taxes, you might have to pay state and local taxes.
The IRS limits many other deductions based on your income. ... For every $2 of modified AGI over $100,000 per year, though, the IRS takes away $1 of your loss write-off. As another example, you can also write off up to $2,500 per year of qualifying student loan interest on your own, your spouse's or your dependents' loans.
The tax-free threshold for individuals is $18,200 in the 2019–20 financial year. A sole trader business structure is taxed as part of your own personal income. There is no tax-free threshold for companies – you pay tax on every dollar the company earns.
Though you may be tax exempt from federal income taxes, you might have to pay state and local taxes. To be exempt from state and local taxes, you need an exemption from your state and local governments. Usually, you’re eligible for state tax exemption after receiving federal exemption.
There are a variety of organizations that can be tax exempt. Here are some common tax-exempt organizations:

• Churches and religious organizations
• Educational organizations
• Fraternities, societies, and associations
• Veterans’ organization with at least 75% of its members serving or have served in the armed forces

Section 501(c)(3) status: For federal tax exemption, your organization must register with the IRS. Though there are other ways to gain exemption, the most common is with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Besides tax exemption, 501(c)(3) organizations also receive eligibility for tax deductible charitable gifts, exemption from federal employment taxes, the likelihood of exemption from state and local taxes, and bulk postage rate privileges.
To be eligible for 501(c)(3) status, an organization must:

1. Operate for religious, educational, scientific, or other charitable purposes
2. Not give net income to any private individual, such as an owner or founder
3. Not attempt to influence government legislation or be involved with political campaigns
4. Not practice illegal activities or violate fundamental public policy

Charitable contribution tax deduction: Being tax exempt saves your organization money on taxes. But if you’re like many small businesses, you probably do not qualify for tax exemption.
If you are not tax exempt and contributed charitable donations to a qualified organization, you could claim a tax deduction. The charitable contribution deduction reduces your business’s tax liability.
Check that the organization you donated to is qualified before claiming the deduction. If you claim the deduction for an organization that is not tax exempt, you could get into trouble with the IRS.
Usually, you can write off a charitable donation using the 50% limit. With this rule, the deduction must be less than 50% of your adjusted gross income. Depending on the type of donation and the organization you contributed to, you may be limited to 30% of your adjusted gross income. And, corporations cannot claim more than 10% of their adjusted gross income.
to finish we highlight that. Tax time is just around the corner and your patients may be wondering if they can deduct their cosmetic procedures and / or plastic surgeries.
A limited number of patients have successfully deducted plastic surgery procedures. The argument can be made that improvement in physical appearance could be beneficial to a model or news anchor. However, these arguments have been largely rejected by the Internal Revenue Service and by the courts as being too personal in nature and benefitting the taxpayer. Cosmetic surgery is typically treated as a nondeductible expense.
New Jersey CPA Gail Rosen says the “Chesty Love” case proved that you must satisfy two conditions to deduct cosmetic surgery. For starters, it must be required as a condition of employment. “Chesty Love” proved that her income and career earnings increased with her augmented breasts. And No. 2 is that the addition or enhancement is unsuitable for everyday use. “Chesty Loves” extremely large breasts were unsuitable for everyday use, and she was going to have them reduced as soon as her exotic dancing career ended.
Being in business as long as we have, clients have asked about deducting various cosmetic surgery procedures,” Rosen says. “To deduct cosmetic surgery, they must pass the above two tests. When we tell them why their cosmetic surgery is not deductible based on the tax law, none of them have pushed any further
Before you give tax advice to patients, understand what the IRS labels as a deduction. Former US Tax Code attorney-advisor Jared R. Callister with California’s Fishman, Larsen, Goldring & Zeitler gives Plastic Surgery Practice readers a rundown of the current rules on the deductibility of cosmetic surgeries.
In short, in the context of cosmetic surgery, the issue does not really revolve around the distinction between being a medical necessity and being an elective procedure. A different test applies. Under the Internal Revenue Code (the Code), a partial deduction is allowed for expenses paid by a taxpayer for "medical care."
However, the Code explicitly excludes cosmetic surgery from being included in the definition of medical care, unless it is surgery that can generally be considered corrective. The Code defines "cosmetic surgery" as a procedure that is intended to improve the patient's appearance and does not significantly promote proper body function or prevent or treat disease.