The IRS Will Pay You to Upgrade Your Dental Office—Here’s How ADA Compliance Can Save You Thousands

Today we are going to talk about something that almost no dentist gets excited about, but every dentist should definitely understand: ADA compliance. Now, this episode isn’t about fear, lawsuits, or government red tape for the sake of it. This episode is about how the IRS will literally help pay for ADA improvements in your practice, including things you may already be doing. Welcome back to the No BS Dental Growth Podcast.

Chris Pistorius (00:00:47)
Before you mentally check out, stay with me. This episode is about how the IRS can help pay for ADA improvements in your practice, including your dental website—which is where many practices accidentally get exposed. We’ll talk about the ADA tax credit, the architectural barrier removal tax, who qualifies, what counts, and how this applies to both your office and website.

Chris Pistorius (00:01:39)
Quick disclaimer: I’m not a CPA. This is not tax advice, but I am here to help you ask smarter questions and stop leaving money on the table. Dental practices are public-facing healthcare businesses, so ADA compliance is not optional. It applies to parking lots, front doors, bathrooms, operatories, and websites. Many dentists are already making ADA-related improvements—remodeling bathrooms, adding ramps, updating signage, improving websites—without realizing there’s a tax incentive designed to offset those costs.

Chris Pistorius (00:02:45)
Let’s start with the ADA Disabled Access Credit, also known as Section 44. This is designed for small businesses, including single-location dental practices. You qualify if your practice has gross receipts of $1 million or less or 30 or fewer full-time employees.

Chris Pistorius (00:03:11)
The credit applies to eligible ADA-related expenses: accessible restrooms, widened doorways, ramps, handrails, accessible operatories, signage (including braille), and adjustments to counters or seating. It can even apply to certain website accessibility improvements, like audits, ADA-compliant navigation, screen reader compatibility, color contrast and text adjustments, or keyboard navigation support.

Chris Pistorius (00:04:33)
Here’s how it works: the first $250 doesn’t count, then the credit covers 50% of the next $10,000. Maximum credit: $5,000 per year. This is a tax credit—not a deduction—so it’s a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes owed.

Chris Pistorius (00:05:07)
Pros: powerful tax savings, encourages proactive compliance, offsets website and office improvements. Cons: smaller cap, requires documentation, clean invoices, and descriptions of work done. Still, this is one of the most underused credits in dentistry.

Chris Pistorius (00:06:06)
Next is the Architectural Barrier Removal Tax Deduction, Section 190. This is a deduction, not a credit, so it reduces taxable income. Almost any business qualifies, especially larger or multi-location practices. It covers physical barrier removal: parking lots, entryways, door widening, flooring adjustments, reception desk modifications, bathroom remodels. You can deduct up to $15,000 per year. Pros: higher cap, applies to more businesses, renewable yearly. Cons: less powerful than a credit, savings depend on your tax bracket, requires proper expense classification.

Chris Pistorius (00:07:18)
You can use both the ADA credit and barrier removal deduction in the same year if you qualify—but not on the same dollar. A good CPA will help assign expenses correctly.

Chris Pistorius (00:07:48)
Website accessibility is a common source of compliance issues. If your website upgrade includes accessibility improvements, these costs may qualify as ADA-related improvements. A properly built dental website improves patient experience, reduces legal exposure, and may offset costs through tax credits or deductions.

Chris Pistorius (00:08:09)
Common mistakes: not tracking ADA expenses separately, waiting for complaints, assuming small practices are exempt, or letting CPAs handle everything without asking questions.

Chris Pistorius (00:08:41)
Action steps: 1) Ask your CPA if you qualify for the ADA Disabled Access Credit. 2) Review recent office and website improvements. 3) Document ADA-related expenses clearly. Proactive compliance plus tax savings beats lawsuits every time.

Chris Pistorius (00:09:13)
If you found this episode helpful, share it with another practice owner. If you want help building an accessible, compliant, high-converting dental website, that’s exactly what we do. Keep growing smart, not stressed.