Can massage therapy be written off as a tax deduction for my job?

Tax preparer here! This is actually a nuanced situation. Massage therapy can potentially be deductible, but it depends on how you classify it. As a medical expense: You would need a written recommendation from a doctor stating that the massages are medically necessary to treat a specific condition (like chronic work-related back pain). Medical expenses are only deductible if they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and you'd need to itemize deductions rather than taking the standard deduction. As a business expense: Since you're a hairdresser, if you're self-employed (file Schedule C), you might have a better case claiming these as ordinary and necessary business expenses to maintain your physical ability to perform your job. Keep detailed records connecting the massages to your work requirements. Either way, documentation is key. I'd recommend getting that written recommendation from your chiropractor even retroactively, and keeping a log of how these massages specifically relate to maintaining your ability to work.

I discovered something that might help you! After struggling with similar questions about my physical therapy expenses, I found https://taxr.ai which analyzes your specific tax situation and documents. I uploaded my receipts and doctor's notes, and it instantly told me exactly how to classify my therapy expenses and what documentation I needed. The cool thing was it showed me which specific tax forms and line items to use for these kinds of deductions based on my employment status. It even identified a bunch of other industry-specific deductions for salon professionals that I had no idea about! Might be worth checking out for your situation since massage therapy deductions can be tricky.

Okay I tried taxr.ai and I'm actually surprised! I was skeptical (sorry about that) but it immediately found the relevant IRS memo about therapeutic services for physical occupations. It showed me exactly how to document my massage therapy as a business expense since I'm also in a physical profession (contractor). It even created a documentation template specifically for connecting the therapy to job requirements. The system found two tax court precedents where hairstylists successfully deducted massage therapy as a business expense and explained exactly how they documented it properly. Way more specific than what my tax guy told me last year when I tried to deduct my physical therapy!

I've been trying to reach the IRS for weeks to get a straight answer about massage therapy deductions for my wife who's a dental hygienist (similar physical issues). Always busy signals or 2+ hour wait times. I finally used https://claimyr.com and got through to an IRS agent in under 20 minutes! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed that massage therapy can be deductible if properly documented as either medical (with doctor's note) or business expense (if self-employed with proper logs connecting it to maintaining your ability to work). They also explained exactly what documentation they look for during audits of these specific deductions. Such a relief to get an official answer directly from the IRS!

I need to eat my words and apologize. After posting that skeptical comment, I was so frustrated with trying to reach the IRS about my own tax issues that I tried Claimyr out of desperation. IT ACTUALLY WORKS. Within 35 minutes I was speaking with an IRS agent who helped clarify my questions about therapy-related deductions. The agent confirmed exactly what others here mentioned - massage therapy can be deductible under certain circumstances, especially for physically demanding professions, but documentation requirements differ between medical expenses and business expenses. They even emailed me the specific IRS publication sections that address therapeutic treatments. I've been trying to get this information for weeks!

Former salon owner here. I successfully deducted my massage therapy for years as a business expense on my Schedule C. The key is documentation - I had my physical therapist write a letter explaining how regular massage was necessary to prevent repetitive stress injuries specific to hairstyling (holding arms up, standing all day, etc). I also kept a log showing how each session addressed specific work-related issues and how it maintained my ability to perform my job. During a minor audit in 2022, the IRS accepted these deductions without issue because I had the documentation connecting them directly to my profession. Just make sure you're consistent and thorough with your record-keeping!

Just FYI - if you get massages at a spa rather than from a licensed massage therapist with medical credentials, the IRS is much more likely to flag it during an audit. My friend is an auditor and says they specifically look at "therapeutic services" claimed as deductions.

As someone who works in tax compliance, I want to add a crucial point that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you're going to claim massage therapy as a business expense, make sure you're consistent with how you treat ALL your health-related expenses. The IRS looks for patterns during audits. If you're deducting massages as business expenses but claiming other work-related health costs (like ergonomic equipment, supportive shoes, etc.) as medical expenses, it could raise red flags. Pick one classification strategy and stick with it across all similar expenses. Also, since you mentioned you're a hairdresser - if you rent a booth or chair rather than being a direct employee, you're likely self-employed and would have much better luck with the business expense route on Schedule C. Employee hairdressers have very limited options for unreimbursed employee expenses after the 2017 tax changes. Keep receipts, document the connection to your work, and consider having your chiropractor write a brief letter explaining how regular massage prevents work-related injuries in your specific profession. That documentation could be invaluable if you're ever questioned about these deductions.

I'm a massage therapist who works with a lot of professionals in physically demanding jobs like hairdressers, and I wanted to add some perspective from the provider side. When clients ask me about tax deductions, I always recommend they get documentation before we start regular sessions. I can write a detailed treatment plan that specifically addresses work-related muscular issues and prevention of repetitive stress injuries. This creates a paper trail from day one rather than trying to justify it retroactively. For hairdressers specifically, I document how the treatment addresses cervical strain from looking down at clients, shoulder impingement from extended arm positioning, and lower back tension from prolonged standing. The more specific the documentation connects to your actual job duties, the stronger your case becomes. One thing I've noticed - clients who treat these sessions as preventive maintenance rather than just relaxation tend to have better success with deductions. Keep a brief log after each session noting which work-related issues were addressed and how it helps you maintain your productivity. The IRS seems to respond better to "this prevents injury that would stop me from working" rather than "this makes me feel better.