Your pets may feel like family, but can you claim them as dependents on your tax return?

Rebecca Payne

Wed, February 18, 2026 at 10:00 PM GMT+9 5 min read

With tax time approaching, you may be thinking about what you’ll be able to write-off, and whether there are any new changes to what is deductible.

Some Americans who own pets may have wondered if they are able to deduct the expenses related to their pets. After all, for many people, pets are beloved family members.

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One New York woman is even hoping to change tax law. Amanda Reynolds filed a lawsuit last year against the IRS, because she wants her dog to be recognized as a dependent.

The suit argues that dogs should be recognized as “quasi-citizens entitled to limited civil recognition, including dependency status for tax purposes (1).”

Defining a dependent

Reynolds’s lawsuit states that her dog, Finnegan Mary Reynolds, is “entirely dependent” on her for survival, USA Today reported. The lawsuit details the expenses Reynolds incurs caring for Finnegan — totaling about $5,000 a year — including boarding, daycare, transportation, veterinary services, grooming, food and housing.

“For all intents and purposes, Finnegan is like a daughter, and is definitely a ‘dependent,’” USA reported the lawsuit said.

The suit claims that Reynolds’ dog satisfies the Internal Revenue Code’s definition of a dependent under section 152, other than not being a human (2).

The two kinds of dependents that you can claim on your tax return are a qualifying child and a qualifying relative.

A qualifying child must be your relative (child, stepchild, foster child, sibling or descendant), be under 19 (or under 24 if they’re a full-time student, or any age if they are permanently and totally disabled), live with you for more than half the year, and must not provide more than half of their own financial support (3).

A qualifying relative must be related to you or be a person who lives with you for the entire year. They must get more than half of their financial support from you, and they must earn below a certain threshold (3).

A report from Forbes notes that “the statute specifically uses the term ‘individual’ which courts and the IRS have consistently interpreted to mean human beings (2).”

If you’re able to claim dependents when you file your taxes, it can mean you qualify for tax credits and deductions, such as the Child Tax Credit, the Credit for Other Dependents and the Earned Income Tax Credit (2). Forbes notes that “Dependents may also qualify for a favorable head-of-household filing status, which offers lower tax rates and a higher standard deduction.”

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Although you may be able to make some deductions for animals, such as medical deductions for service animals, or animals used for business, such as guard dogs, typical pet costs are considered personal expenses and aren’t deductible (2).

But expenses for pets can come with a big price tag, regardless of whether they’re companion animals or not. According to the American Kennel Club, the average annual costs for dogs, for things including food, grooming, vet check ups and pet-sitting fees, totals $2,500 (4). The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that annual costs for cat owners run $310 for food and $253 for vet bills, on average (5).

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Can you claim your pet?

It’s important to be aware of what deductions you are able to make and what credits you may qualify for when you’re preparing your tax return.

While expenses for pets can add up, and they may be considered part of the family by their owners, there’s currently no way to claim them as dependents. As to whether Reynolds’ case could change things for pet owners, the Washington Post noted that it appears the case will likely be dismissed (6).

Reynolds made a statement to Forbes noting that she “commenced this case out of a labor-of-love as a dog owner and pup-mom to a golden retriever whom I esteem as my own daughter, having raised her by myself while my friends got married and had children (2).”

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines_._

USA Today (1); Forbes (2); IRS (3); AKC (4); American Veterinary Medical Association (5); Washington Post (6).

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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