We get this question all the time in our offices, especially around January through April when families in West Palm Beach, Wellington, and Indiantown are collecting W-2s, juggling school schedules, and trying to be smart about big expenses like orthodontic treatment. And honestly? We love that you’re thinking ahead, because braces and Invisalign are an investment in your child’s health, confidence, and long-term dental stability.
So let’s answer it like we would chairside at Freedman & Haas Orthodontics: clearly, realistically, and with zero fluff.
Here’s the direct answer upfront: braces can be tax deductible, but only in specific situations. In most cases, orthodontic treatment counts as a medical/dental expense. The catch is that the IRS only lets you deduct medical/dental expenses if you itemize and if your total eligible medical expenses are high enough compared with your income. That’s where most families get tripped up.
Also, quick but important note: we’re orthodontists, not CPAs. We’ll explain the rules and how families commonly apply them, but for your specific return, it’s always smart to confirm with a qualified tax professional.
With that said, let’s dive in.
Can You Deduct Braces on Your Taxes?
Yes, braces may be deductible as a medical expense if you itemize deductions and your total eligible medical/dental expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
That 7.5% AGI threshold is the “gate.” If your family doesn’t pass it, you don’t get a federal deduction for medical expenses, even if you spent a significant amount on braces.
This is why some families in Florida qualify and others don’t, even when their braces cost is similar. A household with a lower AGI and several medical expenses in the same year may meet the threshold more easily than a household with a higher AGI and fewer qualifying expenses.
Another key point: you can generally only deduct unreimbursed expenses. That means if insurance pays part of treatment, you’re typically looking at the portion you paid out of pocket.
Now, here’s where families sometimes worry: “Are braces considered cosmetic?” Orthodontic treatment is generally treated as a medical/dental expense when it’s aimed at correcting alignment and bite function (crowding, overbite, crossbite, underbite, spacing that affects hygiene, etc.). The IRS does draw a line around purely cosmetic procedures, but orthodontics is commonly included in deductible dental expenses when you meet the overall medical deduction rules.
And because we’re your orthodontists and we know the real-life context: most teen braces cases we treat in West Palm Beach, Wellington, and Indiantown aren’t about “vanity.” They’re about improving bite function, lowering risk of tooth wear and gum issues, and making oral hygiene easier long-term.
What Dental Expenses Are Tax Deductible?
When families ask us this, what they usually mean is: “If I’m going to bother itemizing, what else can I include besides braces?”
In general, the IRS allows medical and dental expenses that are primarily for the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness. Dental expenses often fall into that category, and IRS guidance specifically discusses medical and dental expenses and how they apply on Schedule A.
So yes, orthodontic treatment can be part of that broader “medical/dental expenses” bucket. And that bucket may also include other costs you paid during the year, like certain dental treatments, exams, or procedures that qualify under IRS rules (again, as long as they’re not reimbursed and you meet the requirements).
This is where strategy comes in, because braces alone might not get you over the 7.5% threshold, but braces plus other eligible medical expenses in the same year sometimes will.
Why Keeping Records Matters
Let’s make this extremely practical, because this is the part that can either save you time, or give you a headache later.
If you want to claim braces as part of medical/dental expenses, documentation is everything. The IRS isn’t asking you to “prove you deserved braces.” They’re asking you to support the numbers you put on your return.
Here’s the solution we recommend (and it’s simple): create a “Braces & Medical” folder, digital or paper, and drop everything in there as the year goes on. Keep receipts, payment confirmations, statements, insurance explanations of benefits (EOBs), and any financing/payment plan records. If you pay in multiple installments, keep a record of the amount paid during that tax year, because that’s typically what matters for that year’s deduction.
At Freedman & Haas, if you ever need a payment history or statement for your orthodontic account for record-keeping, our team can help you pull what you need from our system so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
What Are the Requirements for Claiming Braces on Your Taxes?
This is the heart of the whole topic. Most “Are braces tax deductible?” articles leave people with a vague “it depends.” We’re not doing that. Let’s talk requirements, then walk through a real example.
To potentially deduct braces as a medical/dental expense on your federal return, the general requirements include:
You must be eligible to claim the patient (yourself, your spouse, or a dependent), you must have paid eligible medical/dental expenses during the tax year, those expenses must be unreimbursed, and you must itemize deductions on Schedule A.
And then there’s the big gatekeeper requirement: you can only deduct the portion of eligible medical/dental expenses that exceeds 7.5% of your AGI.
Now let’s put numbers to it.
Imagine a family in Wellington has an AGI of $90,000. During the year, they pay $6,000 out of pocket for their teen’s braces (after insurance), plus $2,500 in other eligible medical/dental expenses (for example, prescriptions, doctor visits, and other qualifying costs). That’s a total of $8,500 in eligible expenses.
Now calculate the threshold: 7.5% of $90,000 is $6,750.
Only the amount above that threshold is potentially deductible. So $8,500 minus $6,750 equals $1,750. That $1,750 is the portion that could be deductible, if they itemize and if itemizing benefits them compared to taking the standard deduction.
This is why some families don’t see a benefit even when braces are expensive: they either don’t exceed the threshold or they don’t itemize.
Now let’s break down the key pieces of that requirement puzzle.
Itemizing Deductions vs. Standard Deduction
If you take the standard deduction, you generally don’t get to separately deduct medical/dental expenses. Medical/dental expenses are claimed on Schedule A, which is used when you itemize.
So, your decision becomes: does itemizing help you more than the standard deduction? That depends on your overall financial picture, mortgage interest, charitable giving, state and local taxes, and other itemized items.
Here’s the practical takeaway: many families won’t itemize every year. But some families choose to “bundle” expenses into one year when possible. For instance, if you’re planning orthodontic treatment and you know you’ll also have other medical costs, you might time payments (when feasible) so more eligible expenses fall into the same tax year. That’s not a promise of savings, it’s just a common planning idea to discuss with your tax pro.
Minimum Expense Threshold You Need to Meet
Let’s say it again because it’s the #1 misunderstanding: you don’t get to deduct the first chunk of medical expenses. You only get to deduct the portion that exceeds 7.5% of AGI.
This threshold is why two families can pay the same amount for braces in West Palm Beach and have totally different tax outcomes.
If your AGI is $60,000, 7.5% is $4,500. If your AGI is $150,000, 7.5% is $11,250. Same braces cost, very different threshold.
If you read that and thought, “Okay, so braces alone probably won’t clear the bar,” you’re not wrong. That’s why we always encourage families to look at orthodontic costs as part of their total medical/dental picture for the year.
Required Documentation to Support Your Claim
If you ever get asked, you’ll want clean, clear records. Not perfect, just organized.
Typically, documentation that supports a medical expense deduction includes proof of payment, invoices/statements showing what the service was, and documentation showing what insurance reimbursed (if applicable). The IRS emphasizes medical and dental expenses claimed on Schedule A and the threshold mechanics, which makes accuracy and support important.
Now, speaking orthodontist-to-family: the easiest way to stay sane is to keep a running record of payments during the year. If you’re on a monthly plan with us, that’s especially helpful, because you’ll want to know exactly what was paid between January 1 and December 31 of that tax year.
And here’s a common pain point we see: families pay through multiple methods, HSA/FSA cards, credit cards, autopay, one-time down payments, and then everything feels scattered.
Here’s the solution: pick one place to track it. A notes app, a spreadsheet, a folder with monthly screenshots, anything that makes it easy to tally your out-of-pocket cost when tax time hits.
How to Claim Braces as a Tax Deduction
Once you know you might qualify, the “how” becomes much easier than people expect.
Generally, braces are folded into your total medical/dental expenses for the year, and those totals are entered on Schedule A with your itemized deductions. Then the calculation applies the 7.5% AGI threshold, and only the amount above it counts toward your itemized deductions.
In real life, most families do this one of two ways: either their tax preparer handles it (common for busy households in Wellington and West Palm Beach), or they use tax software that walks them through entering medical/dental expenses and calculating what portion is deductible.
A quick, important reminder: if you pay for braces over time, you generally look at what you paid during the tax year, not the total treatment cost. So, if your teen’s braces are $6,500 total but you paid $2,000 this year and the rest next year, it’s typically the $2,000 (plus other eligible expenses) that belongs on this year’s return. Your tax professional can help confirm the right approach for your circumstances.
Now let’s connect this back to what families actually want to know: “Is this worth it?”
Sometimes the answer is yes, especially when orthodontic costs are combined with other major medical expenses in the same year. Sometimes the answer is no because the standard deduction still wins. Either way, knowing the rules helps you plan confidently instead of guessing.
Conclusion
So, are braces tax deductible? They can be, as long as you’re playing by the IRS rules: you generally need to itemize deductions, your eligible medical/dental expenses must exceed 7.5% of your AGI, and you should keep clear documentation of what you paid and what insurance reimbursed.
If you’re in West Palm Beach, Wellington, or Indiantown and you’re exploring braces or Invisalign, whether for your teen or yourself, we’d love to help you understand your options, timing, and costs with real clarity. And if you’re trying to line things up smartly for the year ahead, we’re happy to provide account statements and payment histories to support your record-keeping.
Ready for a plan that’s personalized, straightforward, and actually fits your family’s life? Schedule a complimentary consultation with us at Freedman & Haas Orthodontics in West Palm Beach, Wellington, or Indiantown. We’ll walk you through treatment options, expected timelines, and pricing, and we’ll make sure you leave feeling confident about the next step.