Can I deduct psychology based online programs as a medical deduction

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 13, 2025
3 replies
104 views

for mental health reasons

Best answer by Opus 17

No, if it is for general wellness.

Yes if it was prescribed by a licensed medical provider.

Opus 17

Answer

Level 15

No, if it is for general wellness.

Yes if it was prescribed by a licensed medical provider.

DawnC

Employee Tax Expert

You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to a psychologist for medical care. You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for therapy received as medical treatment.

To deduct medical, dental, or vision costs on your federal return, you have to itemize your deductions instead of taking the Standard Deduction. For most people, the Standard Deduction produces the best outcome on your taxes. You can read our article to learn more about the differences.

If you itemize, you can deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). The IRS has an extensive list of what you can and can’t deduct.

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Aidenross

Level 2

Whether you can deduct it depends on your specific tax situation and whether the program qualifies as a medical expense under the applicable tax rules. If it's prescribed as part of treatment, it's worth discussing with a tax professional. For general mental health education and resources, [removed] also provides helpful information on psychological well-being.