OT - Tax question

Does anyone know if we can claim Optifast on our tax return?

Optifast is a meal replacement and has no DIN so it's not an acceptable medical tax deduction.

it is a prescription product.  If you have a copy of the script and the receipt for its purchase as well as documents stating its necessity you should be good.  As I am not in any way a tax expert nor do I play one on the internet to be sure you should seek advice from CRA or a chartered accountant.  Also, for folks who travel and stay in hotels for the surgery there are provisions for claiming those expenses, but again to ensure you're on side with CRA make sure you know the specifics before claiming and/or have tax advice from a certified tax expert!  

it is a medical expense, so you likely can, along with your travel and other medical expenses. But, like Ian says, get professional advice on that.

I called Revenue Canada and they said it isn't an eligible expense.

Hi Lynn V.,

Did you tell them that it was prescribed to you and that it is not available without a prescription?

Yes I did and they said that unless it has a drug identification number then it's not a prescription that is eligible.  There is no drug   ID number so we are out of luck to claim it.

Bummer.... I was really hoping to claim it...

Thanks for sharing though.

The CRA is tricky when it comes to claiming medical expenses and gives you a minimum amount that you must reach before you can claim anything. I just finished preparing my taxes, and I had orthodontic expenses to claim for my son. The amount I could claim for 2012 was $1680.00 ( which is the amount that was not re-imbursed by insurance ) and the minimum amount that I was allowed to claim was $1665.00, the amount of refund that I received on that 1 deductable was a whopping $23. So even if OPTI is claimable ( which I doubt as there is not a DIN ) would likely not qualify as a medical expense. Sorry, I was hoping the same thing!

You can claim travel expenses to and from your appointments if you live far enough away.