What Business Travel Expenses Are Deductible for Self Employed?

By Michael Ferguson

What Business Travel Expenses Are Deductible for Self Employed?

Self-employed individuals are, by nature, responsible for their own taxes. This means they must be aware of what business expenses are deductible, including travel expenses. The IRS allows self-employed individuals to deduct a variety of expenses related to business travel.

When traveling for business, self-employed individuals can deduct transportation costs such as airfare, train fare, taxi fares and car rentals. If the individual drives their own car for business purposes, they can deduct the cost of gas and oil as well as parking fees and tolls.

In addition to transportation costs, self-employed individuals can also deduct lodging costs incurred while traveling on business. This includes hotel stays and other short-term lodging expenses. Meals while on the road are also deductible when they are considered an ordinary and necessary expense related to the individual’s business activities.

Other commonly deductible travel expenses include internet access fees, telephone charges, and other communication costs such as faxing documents or mailing packages. Business supplies purchased while traveling such as pens or notebooks may also be deducted.

The IRS does have some restrictions on what is considered a deductible travel expense. For example, personal expenses such as laundry or dry cleaning services are not allowed unless they are absolutely necessary due to a long trip away from home. Business gifts of any kind may not be deducted as a travel expense either; these must be itemized separately on tax returns.

It is important for self-employed taxpayers to keep detailed records when it comes to business travel expenses in order to ensure that all eligible deductions are taken advantage of when filing taxes each year. With careful record keeping and knowledge of which expenses qualify for deductions, self-employed taxpayers can ensure that their returns accurately reflect their actual financial situation.

Conclusion: Business travel expenses can be an important deduction for self-employed individuals come tax time; however it’s important to understand which type of expenses qualify for deductions in order to maximize savings on your return each year. Transportation costs such as airfare or gas mileage; lodging costs; meal costs; internet access fees; telephone charges; and other communication costs associated with business activities may all qualify as deductible travel expenses when filing taxes each year if they meet the criteria set forth by the IRS