The IRS has issued a warning that general health and wellness expenses are not considered medical expenses and are not deductible or reimbursable. The warning comes after aggressive marketing campaigns that falsely claimed such expenses were covered. The IRS emphasized that legitimate medical expenses are allowed for reimbursements, but personal expenses like food and general wellness purchases do not qualify. Some companies falsely claim that a doctor’s note can turn non-medical expenses into qualifying expenses, but this is not true and could result in unexpected tax liability. The IRS encourages individuals to review frequently asked questions on medical expenses related to nutrition, wellness, and general health to determine whether an item is a qualified medical expense.
