You can’t claim your pet as a dependent, no matter how much a part of the family your pet is. You can’t treat veterinary bills as deductible medical expenses. And you can’t take an adoption credit for rescuing a pet from the pound.
This could change. A bill entitled Humanity and Pets Partnered through the Years (HAPPY Act) would allow pet owners to deduct up to $3,500 in pet expenses each year. It is too early to predict the likelihood of enactment of this measure at this time. We’ll continue to monitor this bill for you!
Gross income less allowable adjustments, such as IRA, alimony, and Keogh deductions. AGI determines whether various tax benefits are phased out, such as personal exemptions, itemized deductions, and the rental loss allowance and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI).