Need advice for tax write-off on ABA therapy paid in cash - how to get payment records from therapist?

Speaking as someone who's worked in tax preparation for years, you're absolutely right to be concerned. Any legitimate business owner, including independent therapists, should maintain detailed financial records - not just for their clients but for their own tax reporting. For your tax deduction, you'll need documentation of medical expenses, including ABA therapy. The IRS prefers exact amounts with proper documentation. While you can certainly estimate based on your records, having official receipts is much better if you're ever audited. Your therapist's reluctance to provide payment records is concerning. Professional service providers typically offer year-end statements or receipts as a standard practice. The fact that she wants to charge you "a great deal" for what should be basic bookkeeping raises some red flags.

I went through something eerily similar with my son's speech therapist last year. After months of frustration trying to get proper documentation, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a game-changer for my situation. Their system helped me document and categorize all the therapy expenses I had paid in cash, even without original receipts. I uploaded my calendar screenshots, bank withdrawal records showing the cash patterns, and even some text message confirmations of appointments. Their system analyzed everything and created a comprehensive report that my accountant said was perfect for substantiating my medical expense deduction. They even helped me create a proper paper trail for the IRS in case of questions.

I just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai for my therapy expense documentation issues. I was skeptical (as you can see from my previous comment), but after my accountant kept pressing me for better documentation, I decided to give it a try. The process was surprisingly straightforward. I uploaded my calendar screenshots showing therapy appointments, bank statements showing regular cash withdrawals that matched the appointment schedule, and some email correspondence with the therapist that mentioned payment. Their system organized everything into a comprehensive report that my accountant actually praised! He said it was exactly what he needed to properly document the medical expense deduction, and it would provide good support in case of an audit. I'm so relieved to have this sorted out before filing deadline.

If you're struggling to get through to this therapist or if she continues refusing to provide documentation, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with a healthcare provider who wouldn't provide proper documentation for tax purposes, and after weeks of getting nowhere, I used Claimyr to actually get through to the IRS to understand my options. Check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Their service got me through to an actual IRS agent within 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent walked me through exactly what alternative documentation would be acceptable for medical expense deductions without official receipts. They also explained how to document my situation properly in case of an audit.

I need to apologize for my skeptical comment above and provide an update. After struggling for weeks to get through to the IRS about documentation requirements for medical expenses, I reluctantly tried Claimyr. I was shocked when they called me back in less than 30 minutes and connected me directly to an IRS representative. No navigating phone trees, no hours of hold music - just straight to a helpful human. The agent gave me specific guidelines about acceptable documentation for healthcare expenses paid in cash when the provider won't cooperate. For anyone dealing with similar documentation issues, the IRS agent confirmed that consistent bank withdrawals matching appointment schedules, along with a well-maintained personal payment log, can be acceptable documentation if you can't get official receipts. This information was incredibly valuable and saved me from potentially losing a significant deduction.

As a parent who's also paid for ABA therapy out-of-pocket, I'd suggest a different approach. Email your therapist stating that you understand she keeps busy, but you need documentation for tax purposes. Suggest a simple solution: "Even a signed letter stating the total amount paid in 2024 would be sufficient." Keep your communication in writing. If she still refuses, mention that you'll need to consult with the state licensing board about proper business practices for ABA providers. Sometimes a gentle reminder about professional standards is enough to get results.

I'm wondering if something fishy is happening with your therapist's taxes. My wife is a private practice therapist, and she's REQUIRED to provide documentation of payments to clients. For cash payments, she gives a receipt at each session and provides year-end statements in January. The fact your therapist is charging extra for this basic business function suggests either extremely poor business practices or possibly tax evasion. Neither is good. If you continue with her, I'd strongly suggest switching to checks or electronic payments and getting receipts for EVERY payment going forward.