Dopo le ricadute economiche della pandemia di COVID-19, tutti potrebbero usare una pausa sulle tasse. Anche se la cura degli animali domestici può sembrare un lavoro a tempo pieno, non puoi rivendicare animali domestici come dipendenti dalle tasse, ma potresti essere in grado di cancellare le spese per gli animali domestici se soddisfi determinati criteri, aiutandoti a tenere in tasca una parte maggiore dei tuoi sudati guadagni.
Ecco tutto ciò che devi sapere per richiedere detrazioni fiscali per animali domestici nel 2022 :
Puoi reclamare il tuo animale domestico sulle tue tasse, ma solo in situazioni specifiche che generalmente si applicano agli animali da assistenza e al reddito d'impresa. Ci sono diverse detrazioni fiscali per gli animali domestici a cui potresti essere idoneo, che ti permetterebbero di cancellare le spese per animali domestici come:
Di seguito sono elencate le cinque detrazioni fiscali per animali domestici più comuni a cui potresti essere idoneo nel 2022 . Parla con il tuo commercialista per il miglior consiglio su come rivendicare il tuo animale domestico a fini fiscali.
La maggior parte delle persone non può detrarre le spese mediche degli animali domestici dalla dichiarazione dei redditi, ma chiunque può detrarre le spese mediche pagate durante l'anno fiscale che superano il 7,5% del reddito lordo rettificato utilizzando la Tabella A (Modulo 1040). Pertanto, potresti essere in grado di richiedere animali domestici sulle tue tasse se ti aiutano in qualità di medico o svolgono determinati servizi.
Ad esempio, coloro che sono disabili e fanno affidamento su un animale di servizio per l'assistenza possono essere in grado di reclamare un cane come spesa medica qualificata . Puoi cancellare le spese per animali domestici solo per i cani che svolgono servizi specifici, come questi:
In alcuni casi, puoi denunciare le tasse al tuo cane richiedendo una detrazione fiscale per animali di supporto emotivo . Ma tieni presente che, sebbene ogni animale domestico possa fornire supporto emotivo, non tutti gli animali domestici si qualificano come animali di supporto emotivo (ESA) , altrimenti noto come cane da terapia.
Per richiedere il tuo cane guida su una dichiarazione dei redditi, devi essere in grado di dimostrare che il tuo animale aiuta a curare un bisogno mentale o fisico diagnosticato . Preparati a fornire una nota del tuo medico come prova che hai bisogno di un servizio o di un animale di supporto.
Se sei un imprenditore, potresti essere in grado di ottenere una detrazione fiscale per gli animali domestici che forniscono un servizio per la tua attività. 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.
