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We have all heard Benjamin Franklins dire truism, In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes. For a number of us there is also the uncomfortable certainty of living with incontinence (our own or the incontinence of someone we care for) and its related expenses.

Publication 502 (published by the Internal Revenue Service) is a relatively thin and very readable document that explains what medical expenses can and cannot be deducted on schedule A, attached to your annual 1040 filing. I am not a tax attorney nor a tax expert, but I am able to understand what this little paper communicates.

The document is downloadable from the IRS website. Here is where to find it: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p502/ar02.html#en_US_publink100014757

If you are paying for medical expenses related to incontinence, for yourself or one of your dependents, then you can deduct the cost of these off-the-shelf products because they are a necessary part of caring for a specific malady. Adult diapers are clearly deductible, as are wipes, diaper rash lotions, chux, and the latex gloves that are also part of this care. Hip hip hooray for the United States government! I was glad to find out about this because I am certain that I’ll soon be looking after a loved one who is incontinent. I may even become a bit leaky myself, at some point.

It might seem odd that the general population does not get to deduct the cost of their underwear. For instance, my husband was appalled that he is discriminated against in this way; when he learned that adult diapers could be deducted but that he was not going to be allowed to deduct his own normal underwear, he took an informal vow to never wear his underwear again. He even took issue with the idea that normal underwear is not a disposable commodity, explaining that he does, in fact, occasionally throw away his ordinary loincloths.

Hooray for him. But despite my husbands objections, I think the intent of this government rule is clear and well-meant.

So start looking online and find the best deals on adult diapers. Save your sales slips too; they will be worth some gold at tax time.