<< In 1999, my family will be over the 7.5% threshold for medical deductions. I didn't realize until December that SUPPLIES for contact lens care are a deductible item. So I had not kept any receipts until then, when of course I loaded up. Here's my question: what leeway, if any, will the IRS allow me as far as estimating the cost of saline solution etc. that my family members and I used earlier in the year (instead of having actual receipts)? >>

Technically, if you don't have a receipt the expense can be disallowed in an audit. Practically, an auditor would probably let you have it if the amount was based on a reasonable estimate and not a greedy guess.

If you use one of those "preferred customer" cards at the store where you buy the stuff, they could probably give you a printout of your purchases, but they probably wouldn't want to admit that they could.

Phil Marti
Tax Preparer