I've been doing some consulting work that requires me to travel to client sites about twice a month. I'm spending money on meals while I'm away from home on these trips. I'm wondering what portion of these meals I can actually deduct on my taxes, or if there's a specific rule about this.
The 50% limit applies, but here's the thing - you need to actually be away from home overnight or for a substantial part of the day to qualify, so day trips to nearby clients might not cut it. Keep receipts and a travel log showing the dates and purpose of each trip, because the IRS loves documentation when they spot meal deductions. One trick that doesn't get mentioned enough: if you're eating with a client or prospect and discussing business, that meal might qualify as an entertainment deduction under different rules (also 50%, but tracked separately), so don't lump everything into "meals" - it can matter if you're audited.
You can deduct 50% of your meal expenses while traveling for work, which is the standard deduction rate the IRS allows 🍽️ The key is that these meals need to be directly tied to your business travel - so eating at your client site or during travel days counts, but meals back home don't. Keep good records with dates, locations, and what you spent, since the IRS likes documentation if they ever ask questions. There are some edge cases (like certain industries or if you're eating with clients for business purposes) that might have different rules, so it's worth checking with a tax pro if your situation seems complicated.
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