Americans could get an even bigger tax refund in 2026, but it won’t be for home gym equipment.
A Dec. 24 Facebook post from Lift Big Eat Big, an account with more than 100,000 followers, said President Donald Trump had signed the Home Gym Exemption Act. USA TODAY could find no evidence that it actually happened.
“Squat racks, barbells, and plates are now 100% tax deductible as medical expenses,” the post says. A similar post was shared by X in recent days and has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. A review of recent presidential actions and passed laws shows that this is not true.
The Facebook account confirmed to USA TODAY that the post was satirical.
Similar provisions were considered for “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Although President Trump has not signed any such bill, a similar bill known as the Personal Health Investments Today Act (PHIT Act) has been reintroduced for at least the fifth time this year.
The 2025 version, introduced in the Senate in March, would add caps on some sports and fitness expenses to the medical expense tax deductibility category.
The bill was referred to a committee but received no further action, although similar provisions were considered in the giant tax and spending bill known as the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The House version included a provision that would amend the Health Savings Account (HSA) tax code so that “amounts paid for qualified sports and fitness expenses are considered to be paid as medical expenses,” but this provision was omitted from the Senate and final version of the bill.
The Health and Fitness Association, a global nonprofit industry group, said it was “disappointed” that the bill, which is “rooted in the PHIT Act,” was not introduced into the Senate bill.
“It would have helped millions of people stay active and healthy at a time when chronic disease is on the rise and families are feeling financial pressure,” the group said in a statement.
(This article has been updated to add new information and correct the name of the satirical bill.)
Contributor: Medora Lee, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), blue sky and TikTok.
