More on Travel Expenses

November 24th, 2023 at 6:59 PM

Here’s some crucial information on how to document expenses during business travel.

Corporation or proprietorship? If you operate as a corporation, the corporation should reimburse you for the travel expenses or pay for them directly. Remember, you can’t deduct employee business expenses on Form 1040 anymore due to changes brought by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for 2018–2025.

Tax diary for business travel? Although not obligatory, keeping a timely record of your business travel expenses is essential. This record should prove each expenditure’s amount, time, place, and business purpose.

Travel meals versus other travel expenses? Due to specific legislation, tax deductions for travel meals are cut by 50 percent, so you separate them from other travel expenses.

Receipts. You must retain a receipt or similar documentary evidence for every lodging expense and any other travel expense over $75. A receipt should establish the expenditure’s amount, date, place, and essential character.

Credit card statements and canceled checks. These can’t serve as a receipt, as they only prove payment, not the purchase. Both receipt and payment proof are required to substantiate travel expenditures.

Timely kept record. The IRS considers a weekly or more frequent log of your activities and expenses as a timely kept record.

$75 rule and cheating. Even if you don’t need a receipt for a travel expense under $75, keeping one provides a more robust and reliable proof of the expenditure.

What are travel expenses? They include costs of travel to your business destination and costs for sustaining life at the destination (lodging, meals, communication, laundry, etc.)

Submitting expenses to your corporation. If you operate your business as a corporation, you should submit your expenses for reimbursement under an “accountable plan” that conforms to IRS rules. You can submit an expense report along with the supporting receipts for reimbursement.

Mark S. Fineberg, CPA