Mass. woman sues IRS over sex-change tax deduction

EyewitnessNewsTV.com – Associated Press

Boston – A Boston woman is suing the IRS for rejecting her attempt to deduct the cost of her sex-change operation.

Rhiannon O’Donnabhain (O’-DONOVAN) is hoping to force the tax agency to treat sex-change operations the same as appendectomies, heart bypasses and other deductible medical procedures.

The IRS maintains the procedure was cosmetic — not a medical necessity.

O’Donnabhain underwent a sex-change after spending years as a father, husband, Coast Guardsman and construction worker.

She claimed the $25,000 expense on her 2001 tax return. The IRS denied the deduction in 2003.