<prompt> Human: Dear Reddit,I have the most awesome wife on earth. But she has back problems. Shes had medical caresurgeries related to muscle, nerve, and spinal issues. Shes not an extreme case, shes anywhere near handicapped.Hot tubs always help, we hit the Y every so often and use their tub. I want to buy one for her, here at home. Budget is about 2000, and it will be a Christmas surprise.What medical documentation do I need to write this purchase off as a tax deduction?  <response>: IRS employee here: Publication 502 is the primary reference for Medical and Dental Expenses.Part of the definition on page 2:Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body. These expenses include payments for legal medical services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners. They include the costs of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes.Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness. They do not include expenses that are merely beneficial to general health, such as vitamins or a vacation.Keep in mind, beginning January 1, 2013, you can deduct only the part of your medical and dental expenses that exceed 10 of your adjusted gross income AGI 7.5 if either you or your spouse was bornbefore January 2, 1949.For example, if your AGI for the tax year is 80,000, the haircut is 8,000. Your deductible medical expenses would be only the amount that exceeds 8,000.Thank you for reading. 