Can You Deduct Supplements From Taxes? + FAQs

Generally no, not for everyday vitamins or nutrition products – unless they’re medically necessary.

The IRS treats most dietary supplements as personal expenses, not tax-deductible health costs. However, if a doctor explicitly prescribes or recommends a supplement to treat a diagnosed medical condition, that expense can qualify as a deductible medical expense under the tax code (Section 213(d)). In other words, your daily multivitamin won’t cut your tax bill, but a physician-directed supplement regimen for a specific illness might. 💡 Nearly 75% of Americans use dietary supplements, yet tax laws strictly limit which of those purchases can reduce your taxes. Below, we’ll explore all the rules and exceptions in detail.

What you’ll learn in this guide:

🤔 Exactly when supplements can count as tax-deductible (and when they absolutely can’t)
⚠️ The costly mistakes people make trying to write off vitamins – and how to avoid them
💰 Real-life examples of taxpayers who saved $1,000s by deducting supplements the right way
🏛️ What the IRS and Tax Court have ruled about supplement expenses (hint: personal health costs are a no-go)
📊 A cheat-sheet comparison of deductible vs. non-deductible cases, plus key terms (HSA, FSA, etc.) explained

Direct Answer: When Are Supplements Tax-Deductible?

Yes – you can deduct supplements on your taxes only in very specific circumstances. In most cases, the cost of vitamins, herbs, protein shakes, or other supplements is not tax-deductible because it’s considered a personal expense. The U.S. tax code (IRC Section 262) flatly prohibits deductions for “personal, living, or family expenses” – which is exactly how the IRS classifies general health supplements.

However, there’s a crucial exception: supplements that are medically necessary for a diagnosed illness or condition may be deductible as a medical expense. Under Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, you can itemize and deduct qualifying medical expenses on Schedule A if, and only if, they are primarily to treat, prevent, or alleviate a disease. The IRS has clarified this rule: a supplement’s cost is a qualified medical expense only if a medical practitioner recommends it as treatment for a specific medical condition that’s been diagnosed by a physician. In plainer terms, if your doctor says “Take this supplement to treat X diagnosis,” it becomes a valid medical expense. If you’re just taking it for “ordinary good health” or general wellness, it’s not deductible.

How the Federal Rules Work

At the federal level, the IRS lets taxpayers deduct eligible medical and dental expenses that are greater than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) in a given year. This means you only get a tax break if you itemize deductions (forgoing the standard deduction) and if your total out-of-pocket medical costs (including any qualified supplements, doctor visits, prescriptions, etc.) are substantial. Even then, only the portion above that 7.5% of AGI threshold is deductible. For example, if your AGI is $100,000, the first $7,500 of medical expenses doesn’t count – you’d deduct only expenses beyond that amount.

Where do supplements fit in? Suppose you spent $5,000 on vitamins and nutritional shakes this year. If these were just over-the-counter items for general health, you cannot include that $5,000 in your medical deductions at all – it’s personal spending in the IRS’s eyes. But if, say, $4,000 of that was for doctor-prescribed medical nutrition (perhaps high-dose vitamin D and calcium to treat osteoporosis, or specific supplements as part of cancer treatment), then that $4,000 qualifies as a medical expense. You could add it to your deductible medical costs on Schedule A provided you have documentation (like a physician’s note or prescription) and your total medical costs still exceed the 7.5% AGI hurdle.

It’s important to note that even medically necessary supplements don’t get any special tax status beyond counting as a medical expense. They don’t become an “above-the-line” deduction or a credit; they simply contribute to your itemized medical deductions. With today’s high standard deductions, relatively few taxpayers itemize medical expenses. So, a supplement will save you tax dollars only if:

It meets the IRS’s strict definition of a qualified medical expense (treatment of illness as certified by a medical professional), and
Your total qualifying medical costs for the year are high enough to itemize and exceed 7.5% of AGI.

If those conditions aren’t met, you won’t see any tax benefit from your supplement purchases.

Tip: One way to get a tax advantage from supplements without itemizing is through tax-advantaged health accounts. A Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) lets you use pre-tax dollars for qualified medical expenses. Supplements generally cannot be bought with HSA/FSA funds unless they qualify as medical care (the same rule as above). But if they do qualify (e.g. your doctor writes a letter of medical necessity for an iron supplement to treat anemia), you could pay for it from your HSA or get reimbursed from your FSA. That effectively makes it tax-free without worrying about the 7.5% threshold. Many Americans find this route easier – in fact, there’s a growing push to explicitly allow more supplements to be HSA/FSA-eligible due to their health benefits. For now, though, you’ll still need that doctor’s recommendation to stay within the rules.

State-by-State Rules for Supplements

Federal tax law is only part of the story – your state income tax may have its own rules about deducting medical expenses (or none at all). Most states either follow the federal guidelines or provide their own thresholds for medical deductions. Here’s a quick comparison of how key states treat supplement expenses on state returns:

State	State Tax Treatment of Supplement Expenses
California	Follows federal rules. You can deduct unreimbursed medical expenses (including qualified supplements) that exceed 7.5% of your federal AGI if you itemize on your CA return. No special provisions for supplements – they must be medically necessary to count.
New York	Largely follows federal medical deduction rules (7.5% AGI threshold). New York allows a state itemized deduction for medical expenses similar to the federal Schedule A. Notably, NY lets you itemize for state even if you took the standard deduction federally. Still, supplements need to meet the IRS medical necessity test to be deductible.
New Jersey	Allows a medical expense deduction for expenses exceeding 2% of NJ gross income (a much lower threshold than federal). This means it’s easier for NJ taxpayers to deduct medical costs. If your supplements qualify as medical expenses (doctor-recommended), they could be written off on your NJ return once your out-of-pocket total tops 2% of income.
Illinois	No itemized deductions are allowed on the IL state income tax return (Illinois uses a flat income tax with limited deductions). As a result, you cannot deduct medical expenses or supplements on Illinois taxes at all. The cost of supplements won’t affect your IL tax, even if they’re medically prescribed.
Texas (and other no-income-tax states)	N/A – Texas has no state income tax, so there’s no state tax deduction to worry about. The same goes for states like Florida, Tennessee, and others without an income tax: while you still might get a federal deduction for qualified supplement expenses, there’s simply no state tax from which to deduct them.

Note: Every state has its quirks. Some states require you to follow whatever you did on the federal return (for example, if you didn’t itemize federally, you can’t itemize for state), whereas others (like New York) are more flexible. Always check your state’s tax guidance. But as a rule of thumb, no state lets you deduct vitamins or supplements unless they’d qualify as a medical expense under federal law – there’s no state-level loophole declaring “general health” supplements deductible.

Avoid These Expensive Mistakes

Trying to deduct supplements improperly can lead to lost tax savings or even IRS trouble. Here are common mistakes (and misconceptions) to avoid:

Writing off general health supplements. Don’t assume “health = deductible.” Taking a daily multivitamin, protein powder for workouts, or other over-the-counter supplements for general wellness is not deductible. Some taxpayers mistakenly list hundreds of dollars of such purchases on Schedule A, only to have them disallowed. The IRS considers these personal expenses, like groceries. Mistake to avoid: Only include supplement costs if you have a specific medical reason documented by a doctor.
No documentation or doctor’s note. If you plan to claim a supplement as a medical expense, you must have proof it’s medically necessary. Simply saying “I think it’s for my health” won’t fly. For example, if your physician advised you to take high-dose vitamin B12 shots for a diagnosed deficiency, get a letter or prescription as evidence. If audited, the IRS may ask for this substantiation. Mistake to avoid: Failing to obtain a doctor’s recommendation (in writing) for any supplement you deduct. Without it, the IRS will likely reject the expense.
Forgetting the 7.5% rule. This is a big one: even if your supplement is eligible, you get $0 benefit if your total medical expenses aren’t high enough. Many filers don’t realize you only deduct the portion of medical costs above 7.5% of AGI. Say you have $3,000 of qualified supplement and doctor expenses but your 7.5% AGI hurdle is $5,000 – none of that $3,000 actually becomes a deduction. Mistake to avoid: Don’t expect a refund just from buying supplements unless you have significant medical expenses overall. Consider bunching expenses in one year or using an HSA/FSA for tax benefit instead.
Mixing personal and business use. Entrepreneurs, trainers, and influencers often ask if supplements can be a business expense. The tax law does allow deductions for ordinary and necessary business costs (Section 162), but your personal nutrition is not a business expense. For instance, a personal trainer cannot deduct the protein shakes they drink for their own physique, even if staying fit helps their brand – it’s still personal consumption. However, if that trainer purchases supplements solely to provide to clients or for on-camera demonstrations, those might be deductible as a business supply (more on that in examples below). Mistake to avoid: Trying to deduct supplements that you consume personally under the guise of a business expense. The IRS is very skeptical of this; it led to Tax Court battles where such write-offs got denied (and could trigger penalties for improper deduction).
Double-dipping with HSAs/FSAs. This is a subtler error. If you pay for a supplement with pre-tax money from an HSA or FSA, you cannot also include that expense in your itemized deductions. Why? Because you’ve already gotten a tax break upfront. For example, if you used your FSA to buy an eligible supplement (with a doctor’s note), you can’t count that same $100 in your Schedule A medical expenses. Mistake to avoid: Don’t claim a deduction for something that was reimbursed tax-free. Always subtract insurance reimbursements or HSA/FSA payments from the expense amount you deduct.

By steering clear of these pitfalls, you ensure any supplement-related tax claims you do make are solid, legal, and beneficial. When in doubt, consult IRS Publication 502 (Medical and Dental Expenses) or a tax professional before assuming a write-off – it could save you from an audit headache later.

Real-World Examples That Could Save You $1,000s

Sometimes the best way to understand tax rules is through real-life scenarios. Below are three example taxpayers and how the deductibility of supplements played out for them. These examples illustrate opportunities to save – or costly lessons learned – when dealing with supplements and taxes.

Scenario 1: Doctor-Directed Vitamin Therapy

Emily suffers from a severe iron deficiency anemia. Her physician diagnosed the condition and prescribed iron supplements and B12 injections as part of her treatment plan. Over the year, Emily spent $1,200 on these supplements and shots out-of-pocket.

| Situation | Emily has a documented medical condition (anemia). Her doctor explicitly advised weekly B12 shots and daily iron pills (high dosage) to treat this condition. She incurs $1,200 in supplement costs, along with other medical bills. |
| Deduction? | Yes – Medical Expense. Because these supplements are prescribed treatment for a diagnosed illness, they count as qualified medical expenses. Emily keeps her doctor’s note and pharmacy receipts. At tax time, her total medical costs (including the $1,200 and other doctor visits) exceed 7.5% of her AGI, so she itemizes. She deducts the portion above the threshold, saving approximately $300 in federal taxes. If she had an HSA, she could have paid that $1,200 from it tax-free, yielding a similar savings without needing to itemize. |

Takeaway: When supplements are integral to treating a medical issue, they can reduce your tax bill. Proper documentation and itemizing are key to reaping those savings.

Scenario 2: The Everyday Multivitamin Misstep

Jacob is a health-conscious individual with no specific illnesses. He spends about $50 a month on a premium multivitamin, plus protein supplements for his gym routine – $600 total for the year. Come tax season, Jacob wonders if he can claim these costs since they’re “for his health,” and he adds them to his medical expenses on Schedule A.

| Situation | Jacob’s $600 in supplement purchases are purely for general health and fitness. He has no doctor’s prescription or illness requiring these products. He includes the $600 with his other medical expenses (which are otherwise minimal). |
| Deduction? | No – Personal Expense. This is a classic non-deductible scenario. Jacob’s vitamins and protein powder, aimed at maintaining general wellness, are not treated as medical care by the IRS. Even though good health can prevent disease, the tax code draws a line: expenses “merely beneficial to general health” don’t qualify. In Jacob’s case, even if he itemized, that $600 wouldn’t count toward a deduction. In fact, claiming it was a mistake. If the IRS reviews his return, they’ll disallow that portion. With only a few hundred in true medical expenses, Jacob ends up taking the standard deduction anyway – meaning those supplement costs yield $0 tax benefit. |

Takeaway: Don’t count routine supplements as a tax write-off. Money spent on general health maintenance is on your own dime, not subsidized by Uncle Sam. Jacob’s $600, while helpful for his well-being, won’t reduce his taxes (and attempting to deduct it could invite a correction).

Scenario 3: Fitness Coach Uses Supplements as a Business Expense

Melissa is a self-employed personal trainer and fitness influencer. As part of her services, she hosts nutrition workshops and creates YouTube videos reviewing the latest protein powders and supplements. She spends $500 this year on various supplement products solely for her business – including samples she hands out to clients and products she features in her videos (tasting and demonstrating them on camera). Importantly, Melissa does not consume these for her own daily nutrition; they are dedicated business materials.

| Situation | Melissa purchases $500 of supplement products specifically to use in her fitness business. For example, she buys tubs of a new protein powder and vitamin packs to review on her channel and to provide trial samples to her paying clients. These expenses are separate from her personal grocery list. |
| Deduction? | Yes – Business Expense (with caution). Because the supplements are used 100% for her business (marketing and client service), Melissa treats the $500 as a business expense on her Schedule C. Under IRC Section 162, ordinary and necessary expenses for her trade (fitness coaching) are deductible. The supplements in this case function like demo materials or inventory. By deducting that $500, she lowers her taxable self-employment income, saving roughly $150 in taxes. She also maintains logs and receipts showing the business purpose (in case the IRS questions the write-off). If Melissa had mixed personal use into those products (e.g. also consuming them daily herself), the deductible portion would be lost or severely limited. |

Takeaway: It is possible to deduct supplements as a business cost, but only in narrow situations where they’re truly business-related (and not your personal consumption). Melissa’s strategy saved her money, but it required discipline to keep business and personal use separate – and solid documentation to back it up.

As you can see, the context matters enormously. In Scenario 1, a taxpayer’s diligent record-keeping and a clear medical need turned supplement costs into tax savings. Scenario 2 shows that without a medical justification, even a relatively large spend on supplements does nothing at tax time. Scenario 3 highlights a creative but legitimate way a professional tied supplements to business use for a deduction – a path only advisable if you have a genuine business rationale like Melissa’s. Always evaluate which category your situation falls into before attempting to deduct.

What the IRS and Courts Have Ruled

The official stance on supplements is strict, and it’s backed by both IRS guidance and tax court decisions. Here’s a look at the authorities shaping this policy:

IRS Guidance: The IRS explicitly spells out in publications and FAQs that items primarily taken for general health are not deductible. For example, IRS Publication 502 (the go-to guide on medical deductions) says you generally can’t include the cost of “nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal supplements, or natural medicines” in medical expenses unless they are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a diagnosed medical condition. In other words, the IRS’s own example of a non-deductible expense is a bottle of vitamins for someone in normal health. This guidance has been consistent for years. The IRS even updated its FAQs in 2023 to reaffirm that a supplement must be treating an illness to count as a qualified medical expense (this applies to using HSA/FSA funds as well).

Why the Restriction? It comes down to the definition of “medical care” in tax law vs. what’s considered personal care. As mentioned, IRC Section 213(d) defines deductible medical care as expenses to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease (or to affect a structure/function of the body). Meanwhile, expenses that benefit your general health (even if they arguably help prevent disease in a broad sense) are excluded. The IRS draws a bright line: a specific medical condition must be present or imminent. So, if you’re preventing scurvy because you have scurvy or a high risk of it, vitamin C pills could qualify; if you’re just preventing scurvy in the ordinary sense (i.e. staying healthy), no go. They want a medical necessity, not just a health enhancement.

U.S. Tax Court Cases: Taxpayers occasionally challenge these rules, but the courts have largely sided with the IRS on supplements. A famous example is the case of a professional bodybuilder who tried to deduct the costs of his special diet and supplements. In Wheir v. Commissioner (T.C. Summ. Op. 2004-117), the bodybuilder, Corey Wheir, argued that massive quantities of buffalo meat and vitamins were “ordinary and necessary” expenses for his bodybuilding activity (a for-profit business).
- The Tax Court disagreed on those items – while it actually allowed him to deduct certain unusual business expenses (like body oils used for competition posing, which were deemed a stage prop), the court denied the deductions for his protein-rich food and supplements. The rationale was that food and vitamins, even in extreme quantities, were fundamentally personal living expenses (covered under Section 262’s nondeductible category). They weren’t exclusively incurred for business since everyone needs food/nutrients to live. This case illustrates that even being a competitive athlete doesn’t turn your supplements into a write-off, unless they meet the medical exception.

Another angle – weight loss programs: In other rulings, the Tax Court and IRS have allowed deductions for weight-loss program costs (including special foods or supplements) but only when the weight loss is prescribed by a doctor to treat a disease (like obesity, hypertension, or heart disease). For instance, if a physician puts a patient on a medically supervised diet plan and recommends specific meal-replacement shakes (essentially supplements) to improve a diagnosed condition, those costs have been deemed deductible. Conversely, if someone without a diagnosed disease joins a weight-loss program or buys diet shakes on their own initiative, those expenses are personal and not deductible. The distinction again hinges on medical necessity vs. personal choice.

No leniency for “preventative” self-care: Some might argue that taking vitamins is “preventative medicine.” However, tax law doesn’t reward general preventative health measures unless they’re part of treating a recognized medical issue. Preventative care that is recognized includes things like vaccines, routine screenings, etc., which are clearly medical. But taking say, extra vitamin D because it might keep you healthier falls under personal choice. The tax system expects individuals to bear the cost of general health maintenance. Only when prevention is targeted at a specific risk (with a doctor’s guidance) does it potentially become deductible. A classic allowed example: the cost difference of gluten-free foods over regular foods for someone with celiac disease is deductible, because the special diet is a necessity for managing a disease. Regular supplements for “immune support” or “better energy” without a diagnosed condition are not in the same league.

In summary, the IRS and courts are aligned: dietary supplements are personal, non-deductible expenses except in the narrow case where they’re effectively acting as medicine for an illness. Tax professionals follow these rulings closely when advising clients. If you ever doubt whether a particular supplement might qualify, consider these precedents – and when in doubt, err on the side of caution (or seek a professional opinion) before claiming it.

Comparing Deductible vs. Non-Deductible Scenarios

It can be tricky to know which supplement-related expenses might fly with the IRS. Use this quick comparison as a cheat sheet. The left column describes a scenario involving supplements, and the right column shows whether it would typically be deductible or non-deductible for tax purposes:

Supplement Expense Scenario	Deductible?
You buy a daily multivitamin for general health (no specific illness).	❌ No. This is purely for general well-being, so it’s considered a personal expense, not a medical necessity.
Doctor prescribes high-dose Vitamin D to treat a diagnosed deficiency.	✅ Yes. Treating a documented vitamin D deficiency is a medical purpose. The cost of the Vitamin D (even if over-the-counter) is deductible as a medical expense, with proper documentation.
Over-the-counter herbal supplement you take hoping to boost immunity during winter.	❌ No. Unless a doctor directed this for a condition, supplements taken for preventative general health (like “just in case” immunity boosters) aren’t tax-deductible.
Prenatal vitamins recommended by your OB-GYN for a healthy pregnancy.	✅ Yes, generally. Prenatal vitamins are often considered part of prenatal medical care. Since pregnancy is a medical condition, IRS has allowed prenatal care costs. Prenatal supplements prescribed by a doctor can be included in medical expenses.
Weight-loss supplements and meal replacements as part of a doctor-supervised obesity treatment plan.	✅ Yes. If obesity (or related illness) is diagnosed and the doctor prescribes specific supplements or foods, those costs are medical expenses. Without a doctor’s plan or diagnosis, such costs would be personal.
Protein shakes and fitness supplements you buy for your gym workouts (no doctor involved).	❌ No. Exercise-related supplements for personal fitness don’t qualify. Even though exercise improves health, the expenses aren’t for treating a disease – they’re personal choices.
Supplements purchased to give to clients or use in business demos (and not personally consumed).	✅ Possibly. If you clearly separate these as a business expense (e.g. supplies for your wellness coaching business), they can be deductible on your business schedule. Personal use must be zero or incidental. Documentation is crucial.
An expensive “immune boost” IV vitamin therapy you undergo at a wellness clinic on your own initiative.	❌ No. IV vitamin drips or similar wellness fads, unless ordered by a physician to treat a specific condition, are viewed as personal health expenditures. They’re not recognized as necessary medical care by the IRS.

Use this table as a general guide. Remember, “Yes” deductible scenarios typically require supporting evidence (prescriptions, doctor’s note, receipts) and still must clear the 7.5% AGI threshold if you’re itemizing. The “No” scenarios are out-of-pocket with no tax relief – plan and budget accordingly.

Definitions of Key Terms You’ll Want to Know

Understanding the terminology behind taxes and medical deductions will help make sense of what you can or can’t do. Here are some key terms and concepts referenced in this article:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The U.S. government agency that administers federal tax laws and collects taxes. The IRS issues rules and guidance (like publications and FAQs) on what’s deductible and enforces those rules.

Tax Court (U.S. Tax Court): A federal court that hears taxpayer disputes with the IRS. If the IRS denies a deduction and you challenge it, cases can end up here. Tax Court rulings (like those mentioned for supplements) set important precedents but typically uphold IRS regulations for personal expense deductions.

Section 213(d): The section of the Internal Revenue Code that defines “medical care” for deduction purposes. It says medical expenses include costs for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or payments for treatments affecting any structure or function of the body. This definition is what allows (or disallows) supplements as medical deductions, depending on whether they meet the criteria.

Section 262: The part of the tax code that outright disallows any deduction for personal, living, or family expenses. This is the rule that blocks personal health and nutrition costs from being written off. An expense has to be explicitly allowed elsewhere in the code (like in Section 213(d) for medical expenses) to escape the Section 262 personal expense ban.

Health Savings Account (HSA): A special savings account you can use if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan. Money put into an HSA is pre-tax (or tax-deductible), grows tax-free, and can be spent on qualified medical expenses tax-free. Supplements can be HSA-eligible only if they are qualified medical expenses (i.e. recommended by a medical professional for a specific condition). If you use HSA funds for non-qualified supplements, you’d owe taxes and a penalty on that amount. HSAs are individually owned and balances can roll over year to year.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA): An employer-sponsored flexible spending arrangement that lets you set aside pre-tax dollars for healthcare expenses within a plan year. FSAs are “use-it-or-lose-it” (funds often must be spent by year-end or a grace period). Like HSAs, FSA funds can only cover qualified medical expenses. A regular multivitamin wouldn’t be reimbursable, but, with a provider’s letter of medical necessity, a specific supplement for treatment could be. Always check your FSA administrator’s rules – they typically require a doctor’s note for any exception items like supplements.

Itemized Deduction (Schedule A): An alternative to the standard deduction where you list individual deductible expenses (such as medical expenses, state taxes, mortgage interest, charitable donations, etc.) on Schedule A of your Form 1040. You choose to itemize if the total exceeds your standard deduction. Medical expenses (including qualified supplements) are one category of itemized deductions, but as discussed, you can only deduct the portion above 7.5% of AGI. Itemizing is less common since 2018 due to higher standard deductions, but it can benefit those with large deductible expenses.

Qualified Medical Expenses (QMEs): A term used often in relation to HSAs/FSAs and medical deductions. These are the health care costs that meet the IRS’s definition under Section 213(d) – in short, the expenses eligible for tax-favored treatment. QMEs include things like doctor visits, prescription medications, surgeries, etc., and only include supplements or health programs if they are primarily for medical care. If an expense is not a QME, you can’t count it for a deduction or HSA/FSA use. The IRS publishes lists of common qualified expenses (and non-qualified ones) to guide taxpayers.

Medical Practitioner: For purposes of validating medical expenses, a medical practitioner is typically a licensed health care provider who is legally permitted to diagnose or treat disease. This usually means a physician (M.D. or D.O.), and can include others like chiropractors, naturopathic doctors, or other licensed specialists when they are diagnosing/ treating a condition within their scope. The key is that the recommendation comes from a professional recognized by state law to provide medical care. A note from your nutrition store clerk or your gym buddy won’t qualify – the IRS will look for an authoritative practitioner’s recommendation.

By understanding these terms, you can better navigate the conversation with your accountant or the IRS if questions about your deductions arise. Tax law jargon can be daunting, but knowing the basics – like what counts as “medical care” or what an HSA can be used for – empowers you to make savvy decisions (and avoid costly missteps).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are vitamins or supplements tax deductible if I take them just to stay healthy?
A: No. Supplements for general wellness (without a doctor’s directive) are considered personal expenses. The IRS won’t let you deduct ordinary vitamins or health supplements you take for overall well-being.

Q: If my doctor tells me to take a specific supplement for a condition, can I deduct it?
A: Yes. A supplement prescribed or recommended by a physician to treat or prevent a specific diagnosed condition is a qualified medical expense. You can include it in your medical deductions (or use HSA/FSA funds) as long as you meet the other requirements (like the 7.5% AGI rule for itemizing).

Q: Can I use my HSA or FSA to pay for supplements?
A: Yes, but only if medically necessary. HSA/FSA funds can cover supplements with a doctor’s note indicating they’re needed for a medical condition. Otherwise, if you spend those funds on non-qualified supplements, it’s a non-allowed expense (and could be subject to taxes/penalties).

Q: I’m a personal trainer – can I write off the supplements I buy for myself to stay in shape?
A: No (not for personal use). Staying fit is important for your job, but the supplements or extra food you consume personally are not deductible business expenses. They’re considered personal living costs. The only time a trainer or business owner could deduct supplement expenses is if they’re exclusively used for the business (e.g. samples for clients or products for demonstrations, not your own nutrition).

Q: Do I need a prescription to deduct a supplement, or is a doctor’s recommendation enough?
A: A written recommendation is enough. The IRS doesn’t require the supplement to be a prescription drug (since many supplements aren’t prescription). However, you should have documentation like a physician’s letter or medical record noting that the supplement was advised for your specific medical condition. This proves it was medically necessary. A formal prescription helps, but isn’t strictly required if you have other credible proof of the medical recommendation.

Q: Will the IRS actually check if my supplement was for a medical condition?
A: Possibly. If you’re audited, the IRS may ask for evidence that any unusual medical expense (like a supplement) was legitimate. That’s why it’s important to keep doctor’s notes, receipts, and any relevant medical records. If everything is documented and matches the tax rules, you should be able to justify the deduction.