ReceiptCue

Medical-expense records

How to keep medical expense receipts ready for a Canada tax return

Medical claims often fail later because the receipt survives but the context does not. Keep the payment trail, patient details, and any required certification together from the start.

Built from official public sources. Last reviewed: 2026-04-23

Practical sections

Keep the records in a shape that still makes sense later

Each section focuses on one record-keeping decision that usually gets harder after the tax season pressure starts.

Who should keep these records

Anyone planning to claim medical expenses for themselves, a spouse or common-law partner, or a dependant should keep the supporting documents in an audit-ready way.

  • Keep the support for the person whose expenses are being claimed.
  • Keep extra certification when the CRA page says a medical practitioner must support the claim.
  • Keep travel and accommodation proof when the claim depends on distance and medical need.

What to keep

For medical expenses, CRA guidance focuses on both the receipt and the documents that explain why the amount qualifies.

  • Receipts for the expense itself.
  • Any prescription, medical note, or certification the CRA requires for that type of claim.
  • Proof of payment, plus travel or accommodation records when those costs are part of the claim.

What the receipt should show

The CRA medical-expense guide gives a helpful checklist: the payee, purpose, payment date, patient, and, when relevant, the practitioner or prescriber.

  • Name of the company or person paid.
  • Purpose of the payment, date of payment, and name of the patient.
  • If attendant care or therapy is paid to an individual, their SIN should appear on the receipt.

How long to keep it

Keep the support with the rest of your return records. The tax return may be filed once, but the follow-up questions can show up much later.

  • Do not send the supporting documents with the return unless specifically asked.
  • Keep the records after filing in case the CRA asks to review them later.
  • Keep the payment proof alongside the receipt so the record still works months later.

Common mistakes

The most common failures are missing proof of payment, missing certification, or a receipt that no longer explains who or what the expense was for.

  • Assuming every health-related purchase is automatically claimable.
  • Keeping the receipt but not the supporting prescription or note.
  • Losing patient details when one household is paying for multiple people.

Official references

Official Canada references for this guide

These CRA pages explain the supporting documents and record details that matter most for medical claims.

CRA: Medical Expenses 2025CRA: Eligible medical expenses you can claim on your tax return

Start today

Keep medical proof readable before the claim depends on memory

ReceiptCue helps keep the image, payer, patient context, and review notes together in one record.

ReceiptCue does not decide whether a medical expense qualifies. It helps you keep the supporting trail organized.

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FAQ

The follow-up questions that come up most often

Most medical-receipt problems come from support details going missing after the payment already happened.

Do I send medical receipts with my return?

Generally no. Keep them in case CRA asks to review them later.

Can CRA ask for proof of payment too?

Yes. CRA guidance says it may ask for proof of payment such as bank or credit-card statements.

When does a medical receipt need a SIN?

When attendant care or therapy is paid to an individual, the receipt should show that individual's SIN.