deduct prayer as a medical expense
removep...@yahoo.com
talk of making the new health care bill cover prayer sessions, which
may already be deductible as a medical expense. The closes I could
find is:
Publication 502 says:
Psychologist
You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to a psychologist
for medical care.
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D. Stussy
news:b75ea30e-bab9-477b...@o9g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> Can prayer be deducted as a medical expense? Incidentally, there's
> talk of making the new health care bill cover prayer sessions, which
> may already be deductible as a medical expense. The closes I could
> find is:
>
> Publication 502 says:
>
> Psychologist
> You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to a psychologist
> for medical care.
And the cost is ....what? Last I checked, prayer was free.
Additionally, I would classify it as a contribution, not a medical expense.
removep...@yahoo.com
wrote:
> <removeps-gro...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> > Can prayer be deducted as a medical expense? �Incidentally, there's
> > talk of making the new health care bill cover prayer sessions, which
> > may already be deductible as a medical expense. �The closes I could
> > find is:
>
> > Publication 502 says:
>
> > Psychologist
> > You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to a psychologist
> > for medical care.
>
> And the cost is ....what? �Last I checked, prayer was free.
Evidently $20 to $50 per session. You're paying for the person's time
and effort of coming to you.
> Additionally, I would classify it as a contribution, not a medical expense.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/18/MNTL1B607U.DTL
Katie
gro...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Dec 18, 1:22�ｿｽpm, "D. Stussy" <spam+newsgro...@bde-arc.ampr.org>> > > Can prayer be deducted as a medical expense? �ｿｽIncidentally, there's
> > > talk of making the new health care bill cover prayer sessions, which
> > > find is:
>
> > > Publication 502 says:
>
> > > Psychologist
> > > You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to a psychologist
> > > for medical care.
>
>
> Evidently $20 to $50 per session. �ｿｽYou're paying for the person's time
> and effort of coming to you.
>
> > Additionally, I would classify it as a contribution, not a medical expense.
>
>
Good grief.
Deduction was disallowed for the cost of treatment by a Samoan
"doctor" with prayer and massages with plant leaves, not on the ground
that the practitioner was unqualified or that the treatment was
ineffective, but because (a) the treatment was not specific to the
ailment -- the same procedure was applied no matter what the complaint
-- and (b) the patient's husband had no expectation that the treatment
would be effective. Tautolo, Dennis, (1975) TC Memo 1975-277.
Also, deduction has been disallowed for the cost of "auditing" or
"processing" by the Church of Scientology. Rev Rul 78-190, 1978-1 CB
74 ; Brown, Donald, (1974) 62 TC 551 , affd (1975, CA8) 36 AFTR 2d
75-5885 , 523 F2d 365 , 75-2 USTC �ｿｽ9718 .
Katie in San Diego
Barry Margolin
"D. Stussy" <spam+ne...@bde-arc.ampr.org> wrote:
> <removep...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:b75ea30e-bab9-477b...@o9g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> > Can prayer be deducted as a medical expense? Incidentally, there's
> > talk of making the new health care bill cover prayer sessions, which
> > may already be deductible as a medical expense. The closes I could
> > find is:
> >
> > Publication 502 says:
> >
> > Psychologist
> > You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to a psychologist
> > for medical care.
>
> And the cost is ....what? Last I checked, prayer was free.
If Bernie Madoff were dying, would you pray for him for free?
--
Barry Margolin, bar...@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA
*** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***
Seth
Barry Margolin <bar...@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
>In article <hggro1$rgn$1...@snarked.org>,
> "D. Stussy" <spam+ne...@bde-arc.ampr.org> wrote:
>> And the cost is ....what? Last I checked, prayer was free.
>
>If Bernie Madoff were dying, would you pray for him for free?
You didn't specify what prayer, or to whom, so I think most people
would say yes.
Seth
D. Stussy
news:barmar-99AF8B....@news.eternal-september.org...
> In article <hggro1$rgn$1...@snarked.org>,
> "D. Stussy" <spam+ne...@bde-arc.ampr.org> wrote:
> > <removep...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >
news:b75ea30e-bab9-477b...@o9g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> > > Can prayer be deducted as a medical expense? Incidentally, there's
> > > talk of making the new health care bill cover prayer sessions, which
> > > may already be deductible as a medical expense. The closes I could
> > > find is:
> > >
> > > Publication 502 says:
> > >
> > > Psychologist
> > > You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to a psychologist
> > > for medical care.
> >
> > And the cost is ....what? Last I checked, prayer was free.
>
> If Bernie Madoff were dying, would you pray for him for free?
...And if he were to pay me:
1) That would not make it deductible by him.
2) I'd have to give the money back when his creditors come asking.
Phil Marti
> Can prayer be deducted as a medical expense? �
I have no idea exactly what Christian Science practitioners do, but
their fees are a deductible medical expense per Pub 502.
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD
HLunsford
> Can prayer be deducted as a medical expense? Incidentally, there's
> talk of making the new health care bill cover prayer sessions, which
> may already be deductible as a medical expense. The closes I could
> find is:
>
> Publication 502 says:
>
> Psychologist
> You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to a psychologist
> for medical care.
>
--
Holiday ChEAr$!
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA
removep...@yahoo.com
> On Dec 18, 3:34�pm, "removeps-gro...@yahoo.com" wrote:
>
> > Can prayer be deducted as a medical expense? �
>
> I have no idea exactly what Christian Science practitioners do, but
> their fees are a deductible medical expense per Pub 502.
Thanks. I could not find the words "prayer" or "sprit" in the
publication, but "Christian Science practitioners" might be the
justification for deducting these types of medical expenses.
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p502/ar02.html#en_US_publink1000178918
But what exactly is such a practitioner? Wikipedia has a definition
<Quote source="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Christian_Science_practitioner">
A Christian Science practitioner is an individual who follows the
practice of healing through prayer according to the teachings of
Christian Science. This usually takes the form of what is called
Christian Science treatment, a specifically focused prayer involving
the affirmation of absolute spiritual or metaphysical truth of the
spiritual perfection of God, and of man in God's image and likeness.
'Treatment' may rely on passages of the Bible and the Christian
Science textbook Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary
Baker Eddy, including the Lord's Prayer and familiar psalms, such as
the 23rd and 91st. But it may also simply be a period of silent
communion. There is no formula and 'treatment' can be given in
absentia, including by telephone or via e-mail.
Any student of Christian Science who has taken the 'intensive' two-
week class instruction in Christian Science healing may use the
initials 'C.S.,' and take patients as a practitioner. Those desiring
to be in the full-time practice usually do this for several years and
must be members of the Mother Church, the global organization
headquartered in Boston.
'Qualified' practitioners may advertise in the Christian Science
Journal, published by the Church of Christ, Scientist as its official
organ. To advertise in the Journal--in print and/or on-line-- the
applicant must be a full-time practitioner and provide evidence of
three cases of healing, not including family members. These cases must
be attested to in writing by those healed. The on-line listing is
accessed through www.spirituality.com and then under 'journal
directory." Some traditional insurance plans cover the cost of
treatment received from a Christian Science practitioner listed in the
Christian Science Journal. The United States government has ruled that
payment for Christian Science treatment is now considered a medical
expense by the IRS and by the Department of Housing and Urban
Developme
</Quote>
But an IRS definition would be more authoritative. I found the
following on social security website:
<Quote source="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.
11/handbook-1130.html">
1130.6 Who is classified as a minister or practitioner?
A minister must be duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed by a
church or church denomination. (See �934.)
A Christian Science practitioner is one who is a member in good
standing of the Mother Church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist,
in Boston, Massachusetts, and who practices healing in accordance with
the teachings of Christian Science. Christian Science practitioners
are specifically exempted from licensing by State laws. Some Christian
Science practitioners also do work as Christian Science teachers and
lecturers.
</Quote>
But then it does seem a bit discriminatory. What about Hindu Science
practitioners or Muslim Science practitioners?
Richard Di Bernardo, CPA
http://www.rockryno.com/taxes/Re-deduct-prayer-as-a-medical-expense-24254-.htm
:
Richard Di Bernardo, CPA
-------------------------------------
Barry Margolin wrote:
> In article <hggro1$rgn$1...@snarked.org>,
> "D. Stussy" <spam+ne...@bde-arc.ampr.org> wrote:
>> <removep...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:b75ea30e-bab9-477b...@o9g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>> > Can prayer be deducted as a medical expense? Incidentally,
>>> there's
>> > talk of making the new health care bill cover prayer
>>> sessions, which
>> > may already be deductible as a medical expense. The closes I
>>> could
>> > find is:
>> >
>> > Publication 502 says:
>> >
>> > Psychologist
>> > You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to a
>>> psychologist
>> > for medical care.
>>
>> And the cost is ....what? Last I checked, prayer was free.
> If Bernie Madoff were dying, would you pray for him for free?
Doctors do proscribe placebos.
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HLunsford
>
>
> Doctors do proscribe placebos.
>
Oh well, maybe they do at times denounce and banish placebos, but I have
also known them to prescribe them.
--
Holiday ChEAr$!
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA
--