{"id":30247,"date":"2017-10-24T08:00:53","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T13:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/?post_type=newsroom&p=30247"},"modified":"2023-03-01T13:29:19","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T19:29:19","slug":"meals-entertainment-tax-deductible-business-trips","status":"publish","type":"newsroom","link":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/newsroom\/small-business\/meals-entertainment-tax-deductible-business-trips\/","title":{"rendered":"Meals and entertainment \u2013 are they tax-deductible on business trips?"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many, business trips sound glamourous; a break from the daily grind and a new city to explore. The fact is that 3 of 4 business trips are within 250 miles of the traveler\u2019s home<\/a>, which could mean a four-hour road trip for work. When business travelers are going to cities they would like to visit for leisure, seizing the opportunity to mix business with pleasure<\/a> can be irresistible \u2013 and under the right circumstances a portion of their expenses could be tax-deductible.<\/p>\n

Being able to deduct eligible meal and entertainment expenses incurred while on a business trip requires taxpayers to determine if the meals and the entertainment are truly related to the business at hand. In order to be compliant with tax laws, business travelers need to make sure the expenses they deduct meet the eligibility thresholds.<\/p>\n

Eligible business travel expenses \u2013 when and who?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Potentially eligible tax-deductible business travel expenses are ordinary and necessary costs of traveling away from home for a business, profession or job. Business travel expenses that could be tax-deductible include lodging, transportation and shipping.<\/p>\n

Generally, 50 percent of meal expenses can be deducted and 50 percent of expenses to entertain a client, customer or employee is deductible if the expenses are either directly related or associated with a clear business purpose.<\/p>\n