Service And Emotional Support Animal Tax Deduction 

Illustration of a dog and a cat with a speech bubble containing a heart

If you rely on a service animal to navigate life, you may be asking yourself, “Can I claim my dog on my taxes?” The answer is sometimes. When you require a service animal to support a physical or emotional condition, you may be able to deduct a portion of the expenses related to caring for the animal.  

How to deduct expenses for service or emotional support animals 

To deduct expenses for service or emotional support animals, you’ll need documentation from your physician explaining how the service animal alleviates symptoms of your condition. Gather all necessary receipts for animal-related costs, and ensure you have documentation confirming the pet’s status as a service animal. 

Service animals qualify as approved medical expenses, so you can include these expenses on Schedule A of Form 1040. It’s important to note that you must itemize your deductions in order to write off medical expenses. It’s important to note that you must itemize your deductions in order to write off medical expenses. 

TaxSlayer helps make sure that you get the most out of your tax experience. Collect your medical expense receipts – including your support animal costs – and we’ll help you claim your unreimbursed medical expenses using TaxSlayer. 

Which service animal expenses are tax deductible? 

The IRS allows you to deduct the cost of buying and maintaining the health and vitality of the animal so that it can do its job. Qualifying expenses may include:   

  • Cost to purchase the pet   
  • Necessary training    
  • Veterinary care   
  • Grooming    
  • Food 
  • Supplies like leashes and harnesses 
  • Boarding and pet sitting 
  • Transportation costs 

What is the IRS definition of service animal? 

The IRS defines a service animal specifically as a guide dog that is individually trained to perform tasks directly related to a person’s disability. The designation of “service animal” is exclusive to dogs, as the IRS guidelines do not recognize other animals or emotional support animals that do not meet the same criteria for training and tasks. Tasks performed by a service animal, as defined by IRS requirements, may include: 

  • Guiding people who are blind/low vision  
  • Alerting people who are deaf/hard of hearing to sounds 
  • Pulling a wheelchair  
  • Carrying and picking up things for persons with a mobility impairment  
  • Alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure  
  • Reminding a person with a mental impairment to take prescribed medications  
  • Calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 

If the IRS requests proof that your dog is a service animal, they will likely specify the documents they want to see. This may include documentation demonstrating the animal’s role in assisting you with a specific disability or a letter from a licensed healthcare provider stating that the animal is necessary for your mental or physical health. 

Additionally, providing records of any expenses related to the care and training of the service animal can help substantiate your claims for deductions if the IRS requires it. 

Service animal vs. emotional support animal 

Service animals are specifically trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), only dogs qualify as service animals, and they must be trained to assist with disabilities, such as guiding individuals with visual impairments or alerting those who are deaf. Service animals are allowed full public access rights, meaning they can accompany their handlers in all areas open to the public, according to the law.  

Expenses related to acquiring, training, and maintaining service animals can be tax-deductible as medical expenses, provided they assist directly with a disability. This includes costs for veterinary care, food, and necessary equipment. 

Emotional support animals provide comfort and support through their presence but do not require specialized training. Emotional support animals can be any species of animal, not just dogs, and are primarily recognized for their therapeutic role in alleviating symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. They do not have the same access rights as service animals and may face restrictions regarding public spaces. 

Expenses related to emotional support animals are generally not tax-deductible. Although they provide valuable comfort and support, the IRS does not categorize these expenses as qualifying medical expenses. As a result, costs associated with the care and maintenance of emotional support animals typically cannot be deducted. 

How much is the tax deduction for service and emotional support animals? 

The amount you can deduct depends on  your total medical expenses. That’s because write-offs for your service animal are categorized as unreimbursed medical expenses, and our total unreimbursed medical expenses, including those unrelated to a service animal, must be greater than 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Any amount spent on medical expenses over 7.5% of your AGI will be used to determine the value of your deduction.  

Can you claim pets as dependents? 

No, your pet cannot be claimed as a dependent. The IRS has a list of requirements that explain who you can claim as a dependent, and domestic animals just don’t meet those criteria.  

However, if you work with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization to foster pets, you might be able to deduct expenses related to fostering as a charitable contribution. Deductible expenses could include: 

  • Food 
  • Veterinary bills 
  • Supplies like a leash, harness, bedding, or crate.  
  • Travel costs associated with fostering 

As with any other deduction, you should keep all receipts or documentation that supports it. 

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