38 replies to this topic

[Elle22]

Anyone claiming IVF treatment on their taxes or who have in the past know if you have to submit all the receipts or just hold on to them if they are requested?

[ilovemydogs]

I kept the receipts and submitted on request (sometime around late summer/early fall if I recall correctly).

[SunshineTTC]

I submitted everything from the get-go, and never received the "request for information" later.  Your mileage may vary.

[Elle22]

I kept the receipts and submitted on request (sometime around late summer/early fall if I recall correctly).

So the CRA reached out to you and requested them and you mailed them in?

[Elle22]

I submitted everything from the get-go, and never received the "request for information" later.  Your mileage may vary.

Sunshine- did you submit the actual taxed online or in the mail?  We did the filing online, so don't know how to submit the papers proactively. 

[SunshineTTC]

I mailed in my return along with all receipts, and a spreadsheet detailing everything, in a big bulging fat envelope via Canada Post.  You are pretty much guaranteed to be asked later otherwise -- you will see people call it an "audit", but it's not, it's just a "request for information" -- I just proactively avoided it, didn't feel like dealing with it later.  I did the same when I had major moving expenses.

 

Note that I'm 2 (about to be 3) years behind on filing my returns... so much I hate dealing with it.  The above is what I did for the 2013 tax year, which I filed last year in April.  Maybe I'll deal with 2014, '15, '16 this weekend... (she's been saying for the past 100+ weekends...).

[ilovemydogs]

I got mail from the CRA requesting the receipts by a certain date. If I recall correctly, I only needed to send copies which I did in the mail. I believe you can also scan them and attach to the online portal. I provided a listing that added up to the amount claimed and cross referenced the receipts.

[returnable]

We filed online and are waiting for the "required information" letter.

[returnable]

Just an update...I received a letter in July, sent all my receipts in which included medication not paid for by insurance, counseling sessions, fees paid to RE for telephone consults, IVF fees and all blood tests we had to pay for. I received an acceptance letter of all my medical expenses by CRA and they also returned all my original receipts. As ILMD mentioned I included a cover letter that explained all the expenses in categories and provided a sum of the expenses.

[Awoyt]

Did anyone else get a letter back once they submitted their receipts? I send in all my receipts months ago after they asked for them and have not heard anything back. now I am worried seeing that returnable got a letter back.

[quandry]

We just got confirmation that our claims were accepted.

[kayte1]

We have claimed IVF and related expenses 8 years now, this past year was the first time we were audited. I guess that was a lucky run! This year, we paid an extra $65 when we filed them for someone to represent us if we were audited, as I just had a feeling our luck would be running out. So we got the letter, and contacted the agency we paid for... they asked us to fax them every piece of paper we had and prove all of our numbers. There was a little go-between back and forth requesting further explanation, and we haven't heard anything for over a month now. That's been our experience!

[Abrianna]

We did our own taxes and received the request for receipts for medical expense claim in July. We just got a letter last week that everything was reviewed and there were no issues. I made a spreadsheet for each area ie. Treatment expenses, travel expenses, drugs, and paramedical (dental, chiro, acupuncture). The spreadsheet indicated each receipt and total amount claimed. We attached copies of the receipts to the corresponding spreadsheet. It made it very easy and we had no issues.

[Mamasita204]

We did our own taxes and received the request for receipts for medical expense claim in July. We just got a letter last week that everything was reviewed and there were no issues. I made a spreadsheet for each area ie. Treatment expenses, travel expenses, drugs, and paramedical (dental, chiro, acupuncture). The spreadsheet indicated each receipt and total amount claimed. We attached copies of the receipts to the corresponding spreadsheet. It made it very easy and we had no issues.

What travel expenses can you claim? I'm thinking about switching clinics, but trying to figure out expenses.

[Abrianna]

We did our own taxes and received the request for receipts for medical expense claim in July. We just got a letter last week that everything was reviewed and there were no issues. I made a spreadsheet for each area ie. Treatment expenses, travel expenses, drugs, and paramedical (dental, chiro, acupuncture). The spreadsheet indicated each receipt and total amount claimed. We attached copies of the receipts to the corresponding spreadsheet. It made it very easy and we had no issues.

What travel expenses can you claim? I'm thinking about switching clinics, but trying to figure out expenses.

You can claim mileage, meals and accommodations. We just did standard calculations for meals and mileage so that we didn't need receipts. For the few times we stayed overnight I submitted the Airbnb receipt. Here is the info for the 2016 tax year. The 2017 rates are not out yet.

https://www.canada.c...ious-years.html

[Mamasita204]

We did our own taxes and received the request for receipts for medical expense claim in July. We just got a letter last week that everything was reviewed and there were no issues. I made a spreadsheet for each area ie. Treatment expenses, travel expenses, drugs, and paramedical (dental, chiro, acupuncture). The spreadsheet indicated each receipt and total amount claimed. We attached copies of the receipts to the corresponding spreadsheet. It made it very easy and we had no issues.

What travel expenses can you claim? I'm thinking about switching clinics, but trying to figure out expenses.

You can claim mileage, meals and accommodations. We just did standard calculations for meals and mileage so that we didn't need receipts. For the few times we stayed overnight I submitted the Airbnb receipt. Here is the info for the 2016 tax year. The 2017 rates are not out yet.

https://www.canada.c...ious-years.html

Is this only because you HAD to travel in order to get IVF treatment? I'm not sure if I would be eligible to claim this because I would be CHOOSING to travel to another province to cycle.

[wannabeamama]

We did our taxes through H&R Block this year.  She took all our receipts and added them up and we submitted the originals.  Haven't heard anything back from CRA requesting more information, so I guess that was acceptable.

[RosySkies]

Mamasita204 - the CRA may not consider your travel expenses to Victoria eligible, since you have a clinic that's near your home (see below). If you submit your medical receipts, you could try providing a letter from your doctor explaining why you want to travel to VFC and how the clinic's services are different from your local clinic. 

 

If you decide to go to VFC, I think you should try claiming the travel anyway, with a letter, and see if it gets accepted (just be prepared that the claim might get denied). If you want to get a clear answer beforehand, you should try calling the individuals tax inquiries line: 1-800-959-8281. There should be people available for questions Monday-Friday 9am-5pm local time.

 

This is what is says on the CRA website (CRA link):

 

Travel expenses (at least 80 km) – the cost of the travel expenses, including accommodations, meals, and parking, when a person needs to travel at least 80 kilometers (one way) from their home to get medical services.

To claim transportation and travel expenses, the following conditions must be met:

• substantially equivalent medical services were not available near your home
• you took a reasonably direct travelling route
• it is reasonable, under the circumstances, for you to travel to that place for those medical services

[katie0618]

Hello I was wondering for the expenses you can claim was it just for travel expenses or can you claim like medication not covered by insurance and sperm wash for IUI? Thanks.

[Abrianna]

For us we had to travel 180 km to first clinic and then 500 km to second clinic. I just had my family Dr write a letter indicating that we did not have any treatment options locally and that we needed to change to the second clinic as we had exhausted all treatment options at our previous clinic.

[RosySkies]

katie - yes, you can claim your medications that weren't covered by your insurance (if only a portion of your medications were covered, you can also claim the amount that wasn't covered). Although CRA's list specifically says "in-vitro fertility" costs are eligible, I'm fairly certain you can claim IUI costs as well. 

[Mamasita204]

<p>

Mamasita204 - the CRA may not consider your travel expenses to Victoria eligible, since you have a clinic that's near your home (see below). If you submit your medical receipts, you could try providing a letter from your doctor explaining why you want to travel to VFC and how the clinic's services are different from your local clinic. 
 
If you decide to go to VFC, I think you should try claiming the travel anyway, with a letter, and see if it gets accepted (just be prepared that the claim might get denied). If you want to get a clear answer beforehand, you should try calling the individuals tax inquiries line: 1-800-959-8281. There should be people available for questions Monday-Friday 9am-5pm local time.
 
This is what is says on the CRA website (CRA link):
 
Travel expenses (at least 80 km)  the cost of the travel expenses, including accommodations, meals, and parking, when a person needs to travel at least 80 kilometers (one way) from their home to get medical services.
To claim transportation and travel expenses, the following conditions must be met:

• substantially equivalent medical services were not available near your home
• you took a reasonably direct travelling route
• it is reasonable, under the circumstances, for you to travel to that place for those medical services

I don't think I will be eligible to claim travel expenses according to what you wrote: "substantially equivalent medical services were not available near your home"

That's too bad! Thanks!

[Abrianna]

<p>

Mamasita204 - the CRA may not consider your travel expenses to Victoria eligible, since you have a clinic that's near your home (see below). If you submit your medical receipts, you could try providing a letter from your doctor explaining why you want to travel to VFC and how the clinic's services are different from your local clinic. 
 
If you decide to go to VFC, I think you should try claiming the travel anyway, with a letter, and see if it gets accepted (just be prepared that the claim might get denied). If you want to get a clear answer beforehand, you should try calling the individuals tax inquiries line: 1-800-959-8281. There should be people available for questions Monday-Friday 9am-5pm local time.
 
This is what is says on the CRA website (CRA link):
 
Travel expenses (at least 80 km)  the cost of the travel expenses, including accommodations, meals, and parking, when a person needs to travel at least 80 kilometers (one way) from their home to get medical services.
To claim transportation and travel expenses, the following conditions must be met:

• substantially equivalent medical services were not available near your home
• you took a reasonably direct travelling route
• it is reasonable, under the circumstances, for you to travel to that place for those medical services

I don't think I will be eligible to claim travel expenses according to what you wrote: "substantially equivalent medical services were not available near your home"

That's too bad! Thanks!

It all depends on what your Dr is willing to write. We basically just switched clinics because we were getting no where with that Dr and wanted to try a different approach. I had our family Dr word it that "we needed to travel to Toronto for treatment as we had exhausted all local treatment options" CRA never questioned us on it. I would still try to claim it and see what happens. Worst case u owe them money after they review it. If u send all the documents in with your taxes they may not even review it in detail.

[tk123]

Has anyone tried to claim expenses related to IVF, such as acupuncture, TCM practitioner, naturopath, massage or counseling by a social worker? There is no list on the CRA website of exactly which components are covered so i'm a bit confused. Thanks!

[kayte1]

TK, I haven't (my benefits cover some naturopath and counselling) so I'm not sure!

 

Ok, I need some advice here.... as I wrote earlier, for the first time in 8 years of infertility, we have been audited. I guess it was a good run! Despite the effort in sending in itemized lists, etc., it was our time. So we had two IVF cycles, each at a different clinic, and these clinics were more than 80 km each way. (No local clinics.) They are both "reputable" and big-name clinics. Despite neither cycle panning out unfortunately, I had a good experience with everything else at the one clinic and a completely terrible experience at the other one. We have actually done two cycles there before and only returned because they offered us a discount on the second cycle due to our experiences.

 

So, I get audited and the one thing after months of this annoying process we still need, is a print-out of all the times we needed to go to each clinic for any reason prior to, during and after the cycle. Note that when I did cycles at a different clinic at the beginning of our journey, they easily hit 'print' on a list of the times I had checked in while I stood at the desk (and offered to do so - their idea in case I'd need it.) So I email both clinics and here are the responses:

 

Clinic #1 (loved it there) - no email response from the secretary (her patient-only email address, not the general clinic one) in 2 weeks. Emailed again. Waited another week, stressed to her that we're being audited and need a response. Finally get a response that it will take a few weeks to get this information for us, and we will be charged $30 for their efforts. (Whaaa??? I paid approaching $20 000 for private medical care with you, and now that I'm being audited for this care, you're charging me to prove my patient check-in times?)

 

Awful, brutal clinic #2 - the secretary for my doctor actually doesn't answer phone calls. Only phone calls within the clinic. No way to reach her but email, which I'm sure there are 1000s of unanswered ones. There is no way to contact the doctor, either - you have to go through the secretary. Have been emailing for 2 months with no response. Sat through the voicemail options for the general clinc trying to find someone else who will call me back. Left a message with the business manager (the person who we forced to contact our doctor on our behalf and get back to us after our failed cycle, when she never called and the secretary wouldn't get back to me about when we could have a follow up. That was going on 2 months after the cycle.) Stil no response. I've paid this clinic about $35 000 for our care. Of course I went running from this clinic but I still think I shouldn't be stuck with this audit problem and no support??

 

Am I missing something here? I know the second clinic is just an awful place, but I feel this is horrendous customer/patient care, especially when you're paying out the wazoo! I'm thinking of sending a letter to the first place expressing my surprise and disappointment, if I am in the right here. In the meantime, our grace period to solve this is running out with the CRA. I would have thought this would be something standard that clinics are asked to provide - proof of care/appointments? It was certainly no issue with our first clinic. Maybe I should have stayed there, lol!