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Article: IRS rules cayenne a valid medical expense in some circumstances.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Business Insurance
- Article date:
- January 21, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Crain Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON-A spicy tale?
A recent Internal Revenue Service information letter says the cost of cayenne pepper recommended by a patient's naturopathic physician to treat Raynaud's disease, a circulatory problem affecting the blood vessels in fingers and toes in cold weather, qualifies as a bona fide tax-deductible medical expense. That determination is important to employers and employees because, for example, only tax-deductible medical care expenses can be funded through health care flexible spending accounts.
In Informational Letter 2001-0297, the IRS says that an expense is considered to be for medical care if its primary purpose is the diagnosis, ...