Can you write off massages as a hairdresser for tax deductions?

You're asking a great question that many people in physically demanding professions wonder about. There are actually two potential ways massages might be deductible in your situation. First, as a medical expense: Massage therapy can be deductible as a medical expense if it's prescribed by a doctor to treat a specific medical condition (like chronic back pain from your work). You'll need a letter or prescription from your doctor stating it's medically necessary. Remember that medical expenses are only deductible if you itemize deductions on Schedule A, and only the portion that exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Second, as a business expense: Since you're a hairdresser, if these massages are ordinary and necessary for your business, you might be able to deduct them as a business expense. The key is documenting how they're directly related to your profession and necessary for you to continue working. This can be a gray area that might raise flags with the IRS, so you'd want strong documentation connecting the massages to your work requirements. Does your doctor recommend these treatments specifically for work-related strain?

I was in a similar situation working as a massage therapist myself with wrist and hand issues. I found this amazing AI tax assistant at https://taxr.ai that helped me sort through all my deductions including my own therapy treatments. It analyzed my situation and showed me exactly how to document my massages as legitimate business expenses. The tool looks at your profession and specific circumstances to determine what's deductible. It showed me that since I needed the treatments to continue performing my job (just like you do), they could qualify as ordinary and necessary business expenses. The documentation guidelines it provided were super helpful when I got questioned about it later. The way I see it, these massages are basically maintenance costs for your body, which is your primary business equipment as a hairdresser. Worth checking out!

Just wanted to update after checking out taxr.ai from the recommendation above. It was actually super helpful for my situation! I uploaded my receipts from physical therapy and my doctor's notes, and the system analyzed everything and showed me exactly how to categorize these expenses. Turns out I had been missing out on legitimate deductions for years. The system helped me understand that since my physical therapy is directly connected to my job-related back strain, I could document it as a business expense with the right supporting paperwork. It also recommended getting a more detailed note from my doctor specifically connecting my treatment to my occupation requirements. Just had my appointment yesterday and got exactly what I needed. What a difference having the right guidance makes!

Another thing that really helped me with my tax situation was using Claimyr when I needed to actually talk to a real IRS agent about my deductions. I kept getting conflicting advice online about whether my own health treatments were business or medical expenses. After trying for DAYS to get through to the IRS on my own (kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours), I tried https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They actually got me connected to an IRS rep in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for literal days on my own. The agent clarified that either approach could work depending on my situation, but that business expenses need strong documentation showing they're "ordinary and necessary" for my specific profession. Super helpful to get an official answer instead of guessing!

Ok I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment yesterday I decided to try it because I was desperate to ask about my missing refund from last year. I'd tried calling the IRS at least 6 times before and never got through. Using their service, I was talking to an actual IRS person in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to locate my refund (it was held up because of a mismatch on my form) and get it released. Honestly can't believe it worked. Saved me from taking a day off work just to sit on hold. Don't even care what it cost at this point, getting my $3200 refund unstuck was worth every penny.

One more option for the original poster - do you have a Health Savings Account (HSA)? If your massage is prescribed by a doctor for a specific medical condition, you might be able to pay for it with HSA funds, which is even better than a deduction since it's pre-tax money. I do this with my chiropractic care. My doctor wrote a Letter of Medical Necessity that I keep with my tax records, and I pay for it all through my HSA. Something to consider if you have a high-deductible health plan with an HSA.

just wanna add something nobody's mentioned yet - if ur using schedule C as a self employed hairdresser, don't forget that writing off too many unusual deductions can increase ur chances of an audit. massage deductions might raise flags if they're large compared to ur income.

As someone who's dealt with similar work-related health issues, I'd strongly recommend getting that documentation from your chiropractor as others have mentioned. The key is establishing a clear medical connection between your work duties and the need for treatment. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - you might want to keep a simple log of how the massages specifically help your work performance. Note things like "reduced shoulder pain allowed me to work full 8-hour shift without breaks" or "improved grip strength after treatment." This kind of documentation can strengthen your case that these aren't just general wellness expenses. Also, $2,600 for bi-weekly massages seems reasonable for medical necessity, but make sure you're not mixing in any purely relaxation sessions. Only the therapeutic treatments that directly address your work-related strain would qualify. Have you considered whether your employer might cover some of these costs as a workplace injury prevention measure? Some salons will reimburse ergonomic supports or preventive care to reduce workers' comp claims.