Can You Write Off Travel Expenses for Business?

By Anna Duncan

Running a business comes with certain costs, and one of those is travel expenses. Whether you’re traveling for meetings, conferences, or other business-related needs, you’ll likely incur costs that can be written off as a business expense.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows businesses to write off most travel costs related to their operations. Generally speaking, the IRS requires that any expense be “ordinary and necessary” in order for it to be considered a legitimate business expense. Airfare, lodging fees, car rentals, and meals are all considered ordinary and necessary for business travel.

When submitting your taxes, you’ll need to itemize the expenses related to your trip in order to write them off. This includes the cost of the plane ticket or train fare, hotel costs, meals eaten while on the trip, rental car fees, and any other miscellaneous expenses related to your travel such as tolls or parking fees.

You should also keep track of any miles driven while on a business trip. The IRS allows businesses to deduct 54 cents per mile driven for business purposes in 2019. This rate is subject to change each year so make sure you consult with an accountant or tax professional before claiming this deduction on your taxes. Additionally, any parking fees or tolls incurred while traveling are also deductible when itemized on your tax return.

It’s important to note that there are certain restrictions when it comes to writing off travel expenses for businesses. For example, if you take a family member with you on a business trip then their meals and lodging cannot be deducted from your taxes. Additionally, if you take personal trips during your business travels then those expenses cannot be written off either.

Ultimately, if you keep track of all of your expenses related to business travel and itemize them when filing your taxes then many of those costs can be written off which can save you money come tax time.

Conclusion: Can You Write Off Travel Expenses for Business? Yes!

The IRS allows businesses to write off most travel costs related to their operations as long as they are “ordinary and necessary” expenses – such as airfare, lodging fees and meals – and they are properly itemized when filing taxes. Additionally businesses can deduct 54 cents per mile driven for business purposes in 2019 plus any parking fees or tolls incurred while traveling are also deductible when itemized on tax returns but certain restrictions apply such as not being able to deduct family members’ meals or personal trips taken during the same business trip.