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THERE’s now a tax break for Americans who practice safe sex.
The money-saving move comes thanks to an update from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
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New standardized deductions, tax brackets and other important details were recently unveiled in the IRS announcement for the 2025 tax season.
Among the information was “Notice 2024-71,” which specifically noted that condom purchases for a taxpayer, their spouse, or dependent would qualify as a medical expense.
That means it can be deducted through itemization when it’s time to submit tax returns for the upcoming year in the spring of 2026.
There is a catch, however.
To include condoms as a deduction, medical expenses for a taxpayer must be 7.5% or more of their adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2025.
In the past, some Americans could list condoms as an itemized deduction, but it was only for unique cases, per USA Today.
Richard Pon, a California-based public accountant, told the outlet that the condom deduction only came if the taxpayer used it for medical reasons like preventing the spread of an sexually transmitted infection (STI).
“You had to prove you had a medical reason such as not spreading [an STI] rather than just as a contraceptive,” Pon sad.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
There have also been other ways for Americans to get free condoms for several years.
Those who have a health savings account (HSA) or flexible savings account (FSA) could get their condom purchases paid for or reimbursed.
Contributions to HSA and FSA accounts also aren’t taxed.
The contribution limits set by the IRS for 2025 is $4,300 for an individual and $8,550 for a family with an HSA, and its up to $3,300 for FSA.
There are also several other medical-related expenses that Americans could include as qualifiable for tax deductions.
Breast pumps and lactation supplies, DNA collection kits, Smoking and nicotine withdrawal drugs, and volunteer-related items could be itemized, according to Pon.
Potential Tax Write-Offs for 2025
There are several medical-related expenses that could be itemized and deducted on your 2025 tax return aside from condoms. A list of the possibilities are included below:
- Breast Pumps/Lactation Supplies
- Nusing pads, milk storage bigs, nipple ointments
- DNA Collection Kits
- Requires verification of use, not for ancestry tests
- Must be for medical care
- Smoking Cessation Programs/Nicotine Withdrawal Medication
- Must be prescribed by a doctor
- Nicotine patches and gum that are over-the-counter do not apply
- Volunteer Expenses
- Has to be items volunteers spent money on as charitable contributions while helping others
- Could be for uniforms and personal protective equipment
- Travel costs via Doctors Without Borders
Credit: USA Today
SHOW ME THE MONEY
The IRS also recently detailed its “inflation adjustment” rule for the 2025 tax year, meaning more money for those who are eligible for earned income tax credit (EITC).
EITC is a refundable credit and assists single Americans, couples, and families who have low to moderate income.
There are typically around six requirements that taxpayers must meet to qualify, including having an earned annual income of less than a determined annual amount.
That amount in 2023 was $63,398.
For the 2025 tax year, so long as the requirements are met, those families with three or more children could get checks for $8,046 because of the inflation adjustment.
That’s a $216 increase from 2024, set at a maximum of $7,830.
