topic Perscriptions from overseas in Deductions & credits

Perscriptions from overseas

September120 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:10:29 GMT

Can you deduct legit prescriptions from overseas pharmacies? Ive seen conflicting info on this forum.

Re: Perscriptions from overseas

ee-ea — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 01:06:20 GMT

See this from IRS Pub 502

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502#en_US_2022_publink1000179071

Re: Perscriptions from overseas

Opus 17 — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 01:08:41 GMT

You can deduct an overseas prescription if it was prescribed by a licensed physician or licensed provider in that country and if the drug is legal for sale in the US. If the drug is not legal for sale in the US, then the cost is not deductible, even if it was prescribed lawfully in that country.

Re: Perscriptions from overseas

September120 — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 01:42:43 GMT

what if a US dct ordered the prescription from a pharmacy in Europe because it's cheaper? It's all legal / legit medicine etc.

Re: Perscriptions from overseas

Opus 17 — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 04:21:17 GMT

@September120 wrote:

what if a US dct ordered the prescription from a pharmacy in Europe because it's cheaper? It's all legal / legit medicine etc.

The answer is the same. The medication must be legally prescribed to treat, cure or mitigate a disease or condition that affects the normal function of the body. And the medication must be legal in the US (available to be prescribed in the US). As long as it is legal in the US, its deductible even though it is cheaper overseas.