Efter det ekonomiska nedfallet från covid-19-pandemin kunde alla använda en paus på sina skatter. Även om husdjursföräldraskap kan kännas som ett heltidsjobb, kan du inte hävda att husdjur är skattskyldiga – men du kanske kunna skriva av husdjurskostnader om du uppfyller vissa kriterier, vilket hjälper till att behålla mer av dina surt förvärvade pengar i fickan.
Här är allt du behöver veta om att göra anspråk på skatteavdrag för husdjur 2022 :
Du kan göra anspråk på ditt husdjur på din skatt, men bara i specifika situationer som i allmänhet gäller tjänstedjur och näringsinkomst. Det finns olika skatteavdrag för husdjur som du kan kvalificera dig för, vilket gör att du kan skriva av utgifter för husdjur som:
Nedan är de fem vanligaste skatteavdragen för husdjur som du kan vara berättigad till 2022 . Prata med din revisor för bästa råd om hur du gör anspråk på ditt husdjur för skatteändamål.
De flesta människor kan inte dra av sjukvårdskostnader för husdjur på sin skattedeklaration, men vem som helst kan dra av sjukvårdskostnader som betalats under skatteåret som överstiger 7,5 % av deras justerade bruttoinkomst med hjälp av schema A (formulär 1040). Därför kan du kanske kräva husdjur på din skatt om de hjälper dig i medicinsk egenskap eller utför vissa tjänster.
Till exempel kan de som är funktionshindrade och förlitar sig på ett servicedjur för assistans kunna göra anspråk på en hund som en kvalificerad medicinsk kostnad . Du kan bara skriva av utgifter för husdjur för hundar som utför specifika tjänster, som dessa:
I vissa fall kan du ansöka om skatt för din hund genom att begära ett emotionellt stöd för djurskatteavdrag . Men kom ihåg, även om alla husdjur kan ge känslomässigt stöd, inte alla husdjur kvalificerar sig som ett känslomässigt stöddjur (ESA) , annars känd som en terapihund.
För att göra anspråk på din tjänstehund på en skattedeklaration måste du kunna bevisa att ditt djur hjälper till att behandla ett diagnostiserat psykiskt eller fysiskt behov . Var beredd att ge ett meddelande från din läkare som bevis på att du behöver ett service- eller stöddjur.
Om du är företagare kan du kanske få skatteavdrag för husdjur som tillhandahåller en tjänst för ditt företag. In this case, you’d be claiming a business expense deduction , so you’d have to be able to prove that the cost of keeping your pet is a necessary part of operations .
For example, you might be able to claim a deduction if you rely on a cat to protect your business from pests, or take a deduction for dogs working on your farm to protect livestock from prey.
If you want to claim pets as a business expense , hold on to all your receipts related to their caretaking. Examples of expenses you can write off include food and veterinarian costs. You should also keep a record of how much time the animal spends at your business.
If your pets perform in some way that earns you income, you may be able to claim them (and their related costs) as a business expense . For example, some people ride horses as a hobby, but if you perform by riding a horse and make an income from it, the IRS might consider the cost of caring for that horse as a qualified business expense .
If your dog appears in commercials, television shows, movies, or print advertisements, they could also be considered part of a business venture . The same could be true if your cat is the star of your monetized YouTube channel, in which case they may qualify for influencer tax write-offs .
Just be sure to keep accurate records of every expense related to your pet and the activity that earns income . This might include the money you spend on monthly pet insurance premiums as a means to protect your business investment.
If you foster animals, you might be able to get a tax break on your income return. Every expense made on caring for foster animals could be deducted as charitable donations, so long as the animals are from a qualified nonprofit organization.
Most nonprofits will pay for the cost of food and veterinary care for the animals you foster, but any necessity you pay for out-of-pocket is a tax-deductbile pet expense.
If you volunteer at animal shelters or rescue organizations, you may be able to deduct fuel costs , so keep track of your mileage. Note that this pet tax deduction only applies to driving done in service to the organization’s mission, not to your commute.
Finally, you may be able to claim pet expenses on taxes if you spent money transferring them to a new home in 2021. However, you can only write off pet expenses related to moves that meet certain conditions established by the IRS:
In order to claim your dog or cat on a tax return, rather than taking a standard deduction, you’ll need to write off pet expenses as itemized deductions .
When most people file their taxes, they take the standard deduction , a pre-set number (updated annually) that the IRS allows you to deduct from your taxable income without any questions asked. When filing in 2022 for the 2021 tax year , the standard tax deduction that you can claim based on your filing status is:
Alternatively, you can also itemize deductions by adding up the dollar amount of each qualified expense in 2021. That’s how you can claim pets on taxes, including their vet bills, pet insurance, food supplies, and more. Just remember to keep receipts on record to support every pet expense you claim, as well as proof that your pet is tax deductible , to safeguard against an IRS audit.
However, if all of your itemized deductions from the 2021 tax year don’t amount to much, you’re probably better off taking the standard deduction versus claiming your pet on a return .
If you think the amount that you can write off in pet expenses (in addition to all other tax deductions you may qualify for) is greater than the standard deduction, then it’s worth calculating the total amount, so you can get the biggest tax break possible. We recommend talking to a professional for help.
No, pets are not considered dependents for tax purposes.
Veterinary bills, pet insurance, food, supplies, training, grooming, boarding, and transportation costs are all examples of pet expenses you can write off on taxes. However, you can only claim pets on taxes if they meet certain criteria, such as contributing to income or serving a medical need. Talk to a professional to see if you can file your dog or cat on your taxes.
Yes, pet medical expenses are tax-deductible for pets that are classified as service animals or working animals. You might also be able to claim vet bills on taxes for pets you foster, provided that the nonprofit organization you work for is registered with the IRS and has not reimbursed you for the service.
If you’re looking for a way to get reimbursed for your family pet’s medical expenses, pet insurance is a great tool that can help reduce veterinary expenses in the future.
Most of the pet deductions people typically think of — such as claiming vet bills on taxes or writing off pet insurance — are actually eligible write-offs for those that qualify. However, many taxpayers are surprised to find they can’t claim a pet on a tax return due to the classification of the animal, or lack of sufficient proof required to support the pet deduction. Others are surprised to learn that you can’t claim pets as dependents on taxes.
For services animals, the The IRS explains that the animal will likely have to be trained and/or certified to help treat a diagnosed illness or condition — and you may need a doctor's note describing the medical necessity. For a working animal, you'll likely have to prove that the animal is "ordinary and necessary" in your line of business.
Always check with a tax professional, but it looks like if your dog or cat is the star of a monetized YouTube channel, for example, they might be classified as a performance animal. In which case expenses related to your pet and the activity that earns income could be eligible for influencer tax write-offs.
Always consult a tax professional, but generally, people determine if their itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction amount before deciding to itemize.
If you had to move for work, those moving expenses (including any involved in transporting your pet) could be eligible for a deduction, such as professional carrier services, transportable crates, lodging fees, etc.
Two big ones. (1) Preventive/routine care appointments play a major role in helping health issues before they get too expensive, so please schedule regular vet appointments. (2) Pet insurance is a great way to hedge the financial risk of unexpected accidents, illnesses, and emergencies — and there are no health networks to worry about. Pet insurance can reimburse you for up to 100% or more of the vet bill after your annual deductible is met, which can be a literal life (and wallet) saver, as serious health issues can easily cost thousands to treat.
