Is Personal Training Tax-Deductible?

As the end of tax season looms closer, many questions arise about what may or may not be considered tax-deductible. To that end, I would like to bring the following information to your attention. It may be possible for you to deduct part of the costs of your personal training as a qualified medical expense under the IRS tax code. 

I must remind you that I am a personal trainer and not a lawyer, accountant, nor tax attorney. Please consult with your trusted financial advisor to confirm that your personal training sessions are tax deductible. The following link will take you to the IRS Publication which deals specifically with this question:  http://www.irs.gov/publications/p502/ar02.html#en_US_publink100014898

If you do qualify for an IRS medical expense deduction, we recommend that you talk to your doctor or medical practitioner about writing you a prescription for fitness. By doing so, you can show that your time spent working with a certified personal trainer is a medical expense you pay to lose weight to treat a specific disease diagnosed by your physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease). This expense can include fees you pay for membership in a weight reduction group as well as fees for attendance at periodic meetings. You cannot include membership dues in a gym, health club, or spa as medical expenses. However, you can include separate fees charged for weight loss activities such as the personal training sessions or nutritional consultations conducted by a personal fitness trainer!