A New York lawyer is suing the Internal Revenue Service in a bold attempt to have pets officially classified as legal dependents. Amanda Reynolds filed the lawsuit in the Eastern District of New York, arguing that her golden retriever, Finnegan, relies entirely on her for food, housing, medical care, and transportation.
Reynolds claims her dog fits the exact requirements the IRS maintains for a legal dependent, noting that Finnegan has no independent income and costs her over $5,000 annually. "For all intents and purposes, Finnegan is like my daughter, and is definitely a 'dependent,'" Reynolds stated, asserting that the lawsuit is not "frivolous or meritless."
While the IRS currently defines pets as property, Reynolds argues this does not reflect the modern reality of the home. She pointed out that the agency already allows tax advantages for service animals, calling the current restrictions an unfair burden on taxpayers.
Judge James Wicks, who is overseeing the case, has granted a motion to delay discovery. The pause comes as the IRS is expected to file a motion to dismiss the case entirely.