8 replies to this topic

[Still_Hoping]

Hi,

I'm being audited by the CRA . CRA cites eligible prescription drugs and medicines as those prescribed by medical practitioner... must be recorded by a pharmacist... no OTCs, vitamins etc even if prescribed by a medical practitioner.

 

I had purchased most of my IVF drugs via the clinic, so technically, its not recorded by a pharmacist - so I think this criteria is greatly flawed. I think I'll submit for IVF drugs that I purchased via the clinic anyway. Any thoughts?

 

IMy RE also told me to tak CoQ10 and DHEA to improve egg quality. I figure the CoQ10 is probably not eligible since its purely naturopathic and OTC (even though I bought it from the clinic), but the DHEA should be eligible since you can't just get it over the counter. Any advice would be appreciated. Has anyone claimed DHEA or CoQ10 in their tax return?

 

Thanks,

[ollie2013]

i will ask my dad, he is a tax accountant

[lesley1978]

My rule of thumb is if it has a Rx claim it, my first yr we claimed fertility meds they asked for reciepts. I did not claim vitamins, but I did not take dhea. The injectables and progesterone I bought from the clinic , just summitted the reciept the clinic gave me. The other meds I just kept the Rx reciept that came from the pharmacy. I did not claim travel or other expenses. Make sure you make copies of the reciepts before sending them.

[CrisBelieve]

I got audited too. 

 

No worries bout your meds.  I bought all of mine through my clinic and I just submitted those receipts to the CRA and they accepted it.  As for vitamins and CoQ10, I didn't submit receipts for that as I am pretty sure that wouldn't be acceptable to them...but I could be wrong!  I think the DHEA would be ok because I believe you need a perscription for that.  I also submitted parking fees but that was disallowed beacuse I don't live farther than 40kms away from the clinic.   

[JuneLily]

First off, don't be scared by the review letter. The letters are very, very common. I work for a public accounting firm and we copy medical receipts for all of our clients claiming over $3,000 because we know there's a very good chance that CRA will decide to review them.

 

Hopefully the drugs receipts your clinic provided are detailed and include the Rx numbers. Submit the receipts regardless of whether you think they will be accepted. The worst that can happen is for CRA to disallow those expenses. If they do, you can appeal- those expenses should definitely be allowable!

 

I think DHEA is considered a supplement, but I haven't used it. Generally speaking, supplements, even when prescribed by a Doctor, are not an eligible medical expense.  If you claimed the DHEA and CoQ10 as an expense on your tax return, submit the receipts - again, all that CRA can do is disallow them, but at least the receipts substantiate the amount claimed on your return.

 

As lesley1978 mentioned, make sure to copy the receipts if you're sending the originals. The receipts should be returned... but you never know. You may have the option to fax the receipts or upload them if you have a CRA on-line account.

 

Keep in mind, if CRA does end up disallowing some of the expenses and you claim medical in the next couple of tax years, it's almost a guarantee that they will want to review your receipts for those years as well.

[ollie2013]

my dad said it should make no difference where the meds are purchased as long as you have a corresponding prescription

[Clairey]

Isn't the clinic connected through a pharmacy? Who dispenses the drugs? But that's a side note - yes either way, you CAN claim any drugs prescribed by your doctor for your cycles except the vitamins.

 

I claimed travel (if clinic is 45 km+ each way), food on procedure days, acupuncture, and drugs. I didn't know if everything would be covered (like the acupuncture) but I got a letter from my RE that said I may benefit from fertility-based acupuncture and a letter from my acupuncturist that this was her speciality.

 

I believe in overexplaining hoping it gives a better chance. I have done this 3 times and not been audited yet, but I have read here that auditing is common - so don't worry.

[Still_Hoping]

Thanks all for your insight. Its all very helpful.

 

@ Clairey - at Create, the admins or nurses give you the meds that the RE prescribes.

[SunshineTTC]

Should be able to claim DHEA, as it's a hormone and only available by Rx in Canada, definitely not an OTC.