In short, yes a service dog is a tax write off. Service dogs are working animals for people with disabilities. As a result, their owners won't be penalized with taxes for using their animal as a medical device.  

Below are the answers to some of the commonly asked questions about taxation and service dogs.

The simple answer to this question is yes. However, a business may only ever ask you to leave when you are with your service dog in certain contexts. If they ask outside of these contexts, they are violating the rules surrounding service animals. 

Read on to learn more about which situations might make this permissible in public situations.

For those who suffer with anxiety, depression, or any other mental or physical disorders, everyday life can feel challenging or even debilitating. The basic activities that many do without a second thought are much more difficult for people with a mental illness. 

Many people living with these disorders have emotional support animals to help them through these hard times. These animals can help provide a calming support for their owners in times of distress. 

Many people have found the help of these furry counselors get them through the dark struggles of their conditions more effectively than medication. Moreover, there is a common misconception that registering one’s animal is all one needs to do in order to have an ESA. This is not the case. By simply registering your ESA on our site we will provide you with important legal updates and info impacting ESA owners. A letter from a licensed mental health professional is what makes an ESA valid.

While the title of service animal is restricted to dogs and miniature horses, the role of an emotional support animal can be taken by an animal of any species. In this article, however, we will focus on getting your dog officially set up as an emotional support animal.

Having a service dog can truly change your life. From guiding visually impaired people to turning on lights or alerting bystanders of a seizure, these animals truly perform amazing work. Around 500,000 people in the U.S use the support of a service dog. They don't just drastically improve the lives of their owners but can be life-saving, too. 

Certified under the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog does not have to wear identifying clothes or a harness. This is entirely up to your discretion. However, there are times when apparel may help to protect you and your service dog. In this guide, we cover what you need to know about service dogs and identifying clothes or a harness.

The lines are blurry when it comes to what a service animal is vs what counts as an emotional support animal. It can be difficult to tell the difference if you don't know what you're looking for. This can make it difficult for businesses to know what to allow in their stores.

An Emotional Support Animal's sole responsibility is to provide comfort for their owner. Since they are not specifically trained to offer any other services, these animals are not considered "Service Animals".

A mental health professional must write a letter stating that an emotional support animal would add therapeutic value to a patient. However, a person must have a disability in order to quality for a Service Dog. Service dogs are specifically trained in a variety of skills to help the disabled individual with day-to-day tasks.

These are just a few of the key differences. Here, we will break down what exactly makes these service and emotional support dogs different.