It's complicated, but can be worth it for some individuals and families. Below is a direct link to Revenue Canada's information. Continue reading on for my tips:
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/rc4065/medical-expenses.html
If you want to try and get every penny back you can from the government. You will want to try to claim.
To summarize it:
The above rules and below example comes from the current (Jan 7, 2020) Revenue Canada website. Click here for the official information from Revenue Canada. Scroll down to the gluten free section under the letter G.
Example Calculation from Revenue Canada (notice Revenue Canada doesn't show how to calculate portion eaten, probably because you can't).
If you want to try and get every penny back you can from the government. You will want to try to claim.
To summarize it:
- The amount claimed is the cost differential from gluten free to regular. Canada Revenue is vague here and only offers up a formula but not what they say the regular cost would be.
- The amount is entered as a medical expense
- You need to hit a certain minimum. so you can bundle it up with all your medical expenses to try to reach that minimum. Check link above to see what else you can add to the amount as medical expenses. In terms of the claim, if you buy a loaf of bread for $4.50, but the average cost is $1.50, you can claim $3.50 as part of a medical expense.
- A letter from a medical practitioner that certifies that the person has celiac disease and needs a gluten-free diet
- Receipts for each gluten-free food product that is claimed
- A summary of each food product that was bought during the 12-month period for which the expenses are being claimed (see the example below)
Rule:
- you can only do this for products that are marketed as gluten free. So make sure the products have a gluten free claim on the label.
- You can only claim the costs eaten by the person that has Celiac. Interpret that how you may.
Example Calculation from Revenue Canada (notice Revenue Canada doesn't show how to calculate portion eaten, probably because you can't).
| Food product: | Bread |
|---|---|
| Number of products bought (for the 12-month period): | 52 |
| Average cost of product with gluten: | $3.99 |
| Average cost of gluten-free product: | $7.99 |
| Incremental cost: | $7.99 - $3.99 = $4.00 |
| Amount to claim: | $4.00 x 52 = $208.00 |
Disclaimer!
- I AM NOT AN ACCOUNTANT, but it is my understanding the more medical expenses you have to claim, the more value this has to you. So claim any uninsured./uncovered medical expenses
- If you have an accountant, do the calculation for them. Don't hand them the receipts, most likely they will talk you out of it, because it is more work for them. But get every penny back!
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