When can I deduct medical expenses for cancer treatment on my taxes?

Medical expenses are generally deductible in the year you actually pay them, not when the service was provided. So if most of your bills are being paid in 2025, those would be claimed on your 2025 tax return (filed in 2026). For your 2024 expenses that you've already paid, you can claim those on your 2024 tax return that you'll file this year. Just remember that medical expenses are only deductible if you itemize deductions on Schedule A, and even then only the amount that exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Hope your treatment is going well - focus on your health and keep track of all your receipts for when it's time to file.

First, I'm so sorry about your diagnosis and I hope your treatment is going well. I went through something similar last year with ongoing treatment costs, and I was really confused about how to handle everything tax-wise. I stumbled across this service called https://taxr.ai after searching for hours trying to figure out which medical expenses I could claim and when. They analyzed all my medical bills, insurance statements, and payment receipts, then gave me a detailed breakdown of what was deductible for 2024 vs 2025. They even identified some medical-related expenses I didn't realize were deductible (like certain home modifications and specialized food requirements during chemo). Their system was able to organize everything by payment date rather than service date, which is exactly what the IRS looks at. Saved me from making a costly mistake!

Just wanted to follow up - I ended up trying taxr.ai after posting my skeptical question. I uploaded all my cancer-related expenses from my recent thyroid cancer treatment, including the confusing mix of HSA payments and direct payments. The system automatically separated everything and even caught where my hospital had double-billed for a radiation treatment. They generated a complete report showing I could claim $8,260 for 2024 (already paid) and what will qualify for 2025 (about $27,000 so far). They also projected whether I'd exceed the 7.5% AGI threshold for both years. For anyone dealing with major medical expenses across multiple tax years, this service was incredibly helpful!

I had a similar situation with ongoing medical treatments last year. The tax part was straightforward (pay in 2024 = claim in 2024, pay in 2025 = claim in 2025), but the absolute nightmare was trying to reach the IRS with questions about some complicated insurance reimbursements. I spent DAYS trying to get through their phone system. After nearly giving up, I found https://claimyr.com which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They somehow navigate the IRS phone system for you and call you back when they've got an agent on the line. The agent was able to clarify exactly how to handle insurance reimbursements that cross tax years. Absolute lifesaver when dealing with medical tax questions!

I need to eat my words. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr because I had a complex question about medical expense timing similar to the original poster's situation. I was preparing my mom's taxes (she had cancer treatment spanning 2023-2025), and we needed specific guidance. I was completely shocked when they actually got me through to an IRS representative in about 15 minutes. The agent spent nearly 30 minutes explaining exactly how to document and deduct expenses that cross tax years, especially when insurance reimbursements come later. She even explained a special rule about medical travel expenses I had no idea existed. For anyone dealing with complex medical deductions, especially cancer-related ones that span multiple years, being able to actually speak with the IRS made a huge difference. I stand corrected!

Don't forget to look into deducting transportation costs to your treatments! When I was going through chemo in 2023, I was able to deduct mileage for all my trips to the cancer center (which was 45 miles away). Also parking fees at the hospital, tolls, and even hotel stays when I had to do early morning treatments and stayed nearby the night before. Keep a detailed log! I used a little notebook in my glove compartment to write down the date, miles driven, and purpose of each medical trip. The IRS can be picky about documentation if you get audited.

Has anyone here successfully claimed wigs as a medical expense? My oncologist wrote me a prescription for a "cranial prosthesis" (medical term for wig) after my chemo caused hair loss. I spent $2,400 on two decent wigs last year but not sure if I can include that with my other cancer-related expenses.

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, Olivia. I hope your treatment is going well and you're getting the support you need. I went through a similar situation with my father's cancer treatment that spanned 2023-2024. The key thing to remember is that medical expenses are deductible in the year you actually pay them, not when the services were rendered. So your $3,400 from 2024 can be claimed on your 2024 return (due this year), and all the expenses you're paying in 2025 would go on your 2025 return. One thing that helped us tremendously was keeping a dedicated folder for ALL medical receipts - not just the obvious ones like surgery and chemo, but also parking fees at the hospital, mileage logs for every trip to appointments, prescription receipts, and even things like special foods recommended by his oncologist. You'd be surprised how much these "smaller" expenses add up. Also, make sure you're tracking any insurance reimbursements carefully. You can only deduct what you actually pay out-of-pocket after insurance coverage. If you get reimbursed later, you might need to adjust future returns. The 7.5% AGI threshold can be tough to meet in normal years, but unfortunately cancer treatment costs often push people over that limit. Keep meticulous records - the IRS can be very particular about medical expense documentation. Wishing you strength through your treatment journey!