Can I claim a tax deduction for my child's therapy expenses?

Therapy is an investment in your child's future — and India's tax code does recognise some of that cost. Here's how to claim it with confidence.

In short

Yes — under the Income Tax Act, parents of a child with a certified disability may claim deductions under Section 80DD (for expenses on maintenance and medical treatment of a dependant with disability) and Section 80U (if the taxpayer themselves has the disability). These require a disability certificate from a notified medical authority. This is general information, not tax advice — please confirm specifics with a qualified chartered accountant for your situation.

What you can typically claim

• Section 80DD — a flat deduction for a resident individual who incurs expenditure on the medical treatment, training, rehabilitation or maintenance of a dependant with a certified disability. It is a fixed amount regardless of actual spend, with a higher amount for severe disability (40% vs 80%+ as certified).
• Section 80DDB — covers treatment of certain specified ailments; relevant only if your child's condition falls within the notified list.
• A valid disability certificate from a notified medical authority (such as a District Disability Medical Board or government hospital) is the key document. Keep prescriptions, therapy invoices and receipts organised.
• These deductions generally apply under the old tax regime; the new regime restricts many such deductions, so the choice of regime matters.

Good to know

Claim amounts, eligible conditions and certification rules are revised periodically in the Union Budget, and the old-versus-new regime decision can change what you save. A chartered accountant can model both regimes against your therapy spend and tell you which is better for your family this year. Therapy itself need not wait on paperwork — support and assessment can begin while you organise documentation.

The Pinnacle way

A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care — and the clinical reports and structured documentation from your child's programme can support certification and reimbursement processes. Explore our therapy programmes and speech therapy to plan the right path. We do not provide tax advice; we help you keep clear, organised records.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Trusted sources

Guidance reflects the framework of India's Income Tax Act provisions for dependants with disability (Sections 80DD, 80DDB and 80U) and the disability-certification process under notified medical authorities. For developmental context, see WHO and the Rehabilitation Council of India.

Next step — book a developmental assessment and ask our family-support team how our clinical reports can help with your tax and reimbursement paperwork on WhatsApp: +91 91001 81181.