Can I deduct Zepbound / weight loss medication as a business expense for my weight loss journey blog?

This is an interesting question about business deductions! In general, for something to be tax-deductible as a business expense, it needs to be both "ordinary and necessary" for your business. The tricky part here is that medication is typically considered a personal expense, even when it becomes content for your business. To potentially qualify for a deduction, you'd need to establish that you're running a legitimate business (not just a hobby), which means having a profit motive and operating in a business-like manner. You'd need to be earning income or genuinely attempting to earn income from this content creation. If you're just documenting your journey without monetization plans, the IRS would likely consider it a hobby, making those expenses non-deductible. Even with a legitimate business, you'd face scrutiny because the medication serves both personal health purposes and business purposes. The IRS typically doesn't allow deductions for dual-purpose expenses that are primarily personal in nature.

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As a content creator in the health space, I think there's another approach you should consider. Instead of trying to deduct the medication itself (which is risky), consider deducting the more clearly business-related expenses: 1. Camera equipment to document your journey 2. Editing software/services 3. Website hosting if you create a blog 4. Social media management tools 5. Consultation with nutritionists/trainers (if related to your content) These are much more defensible as business expenses and less likely to trigger scrutiny. You could potentially deduct a portion of the medication, but I'd consult with a tax professional who specializes in working with content creators before attempting it.

Has anyone here actually successfully deducted medication as a business expense for content creation? I'm really curious if there are real examples of this working out during an audit.

I'm also in Massachusetts and went through a similar situation with my fitness content channel! One thing I learned the hard way is that the IRS has very specific rules about what they call "dual-purpose" expenses - things that benefit both your business and personal life. For medication specifically, you'd need to prove it's "ordinary and necessary" for your business, but since Zepbound also provides personal health benefits, it's going to be tough to justify. The IRS tends to view medical expenses as inherently personal, even when they're part of your content. My suggestion would be to start with the safer deductions first - your camera equipment, editing software, website costs, etc. Build a solid foundation showing you're running a legitimate business with proper documentation and revenue tracking. Once you have that established, you could potentially consult with a tax professional about allocating a small percentage of the medication cost, but I'd be very conservative about it. Also, make sure you're keeping detailed records of everything - content calendars, revenue directly tied to your weight loss content, time spent on business vs. personal use, etc. The documentation is absolutely critical if you ever get audited. Good luck with your channel!

I'm a CPA who works with a lot of content creators, and I have to echo what others have said - medication deductions are extremely risky territory. The IRS has consistently ruled that medical expenses are personal in nature, even when they become content material. However, if you're serious about this business venture, here's what I'd recommend focusing on instead: 1. **Establish legitimate business intent** - Create a business plan, get an EIN, open a separate business bank account, and track all income/expenses meticulously 2. **Deduct the clear business expenses** - Equipment, software, hosting, professional consultations related to content creation 3. **Consider a different approach for the medication** - Instead of deducting the cost, you could potentially deduct expenses for getting medical supervision/monitoring specifically for your content (like extra doctor visits to document your progress) 4. **Document everything** - If you do decide to attempt any allocation of the medication cost, you'll need iron-clad documentation showing business necessity vs. personal benefit The safest path is to build a legitimate content creation business around your journey without trying to deduct the medication itself. Focus on monetizing through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, courses, etc., and deduct the legitimate business expenses that support those revenue streams. Remember, the cost of an audit (both financially and stress-wise) often outweighs the tax savings from aggressive deductions. Start conservative and build from there!

Great question, and I really appreciate how thoughtfully you're approaching this! As someone who's been creating health and wellness content for a few years, I've wrestled with similar questions about what can legitimately be deducted. The consensus here is spot-on - medication expenses are extremely difficult to justify as business deductions because they're inherently personal, even when they become part of your content. The IRS looks very carefully at "dual-purpose" expenses, and medical treatments almost always fall on the personal side of that line. What I'd suggest instead is focusing on building a rock-solid business foundation first. Document everything from day one - your content planning, time spent creating vs. personal use of any materials, revenue goals, and actual income as it starts coming in. This creates a paper trail showing legitimate business intent. For your Zepbound journey specifically, consider these more defensible approaches: - Deduct equipment for documenting your progress (scale, body composition monitor, camera gear) - Professional consultations specifically for content creation (nutritionist interviews, medical professional collaborations) - Software and tools for content creation and business management - Educational resources about content creation in the health space Once you have that foundation established and are generating consistent income, then you might explore whether any small allocation of health-related expenses could be justified - but I'd definitely consult with a CPA who specializes in content creators at that point. Best of luck with your channel! The fact that you're asking these questions upfront shows you're going to approach this the right way.

Great question about monetization strategies! I've been creating health and wellness content for about 3 years now, and I've found diversifying income streams is key to building a sustainable business that the IRS would clearly recognize as legitimate. Here's what's worked for me: **Primary Revenue Sources:** - Affiliate marketing (supplements, fitness equipment, health tracking devices) - this generates about 40% of my income - Sponsored content with health brands - around 30% - Digital products like meal plans and workout guides - 20% - YouTube ad revenue and platform monetization - 10% **Documentation Tips:** - I track every income source in a separate spreadsheet with dates, amounts, and sources - Keep all contracts and payment records in organized folders - Use separate business bank account for ALL business transactions - Track time spent on business activities vs personal use of any products/services The key is showing consistent effort to generate profit, not just document your personal journey. I started by creating valuable content first, then gradually introduced monetization. Having multiple revenue streams also helps demonstrate this isn't just a hobby - you're actively working to build a profitable business. For your Zepbound content specifically, you could potentially partner with telehealth companies, weight management apps, or even fitness brands as your audience grows. Just make sure any partnerships align with providing genuine value to your audience rather than just pushing products. Start tracking everything from day one - it makes tax season so much easier and gives you solid documentation if questions ever come up!