Reply #4: Thank you for confirming what I expected might be the case [View All]

I was trying to think of a circumstance in which food would be a deductible expense, and even in the most extreme case, couldn't come up with one: not elderly people who must drink Ensure; not people who must eat gluten-free foods because of a serious intolerance. It would be a floodgate opening: I could deduct the duck fat I need for my French Fries because I am allergic to peanut oil. (Just joking about the duck fat, but I really am deathly allergic to peanuts and peanut oil.)

I wish we didn't always take these bizarro stories and get all worked up about them. Who tries to deduct baby formula anyway? I'm really sorry this woman had breast cancer, but, I'm also sorry that she's wrong. I think the IRS is on solid ground here.

ON EDIT: Just to stave off the expected responses: yes, I realize that business food expenses are deductible. So shoot me. I didn't write those laws. But the issue here is for "medical" deduction. The cost of doing business with your baby has somehow not been codified into tax law yet.