Save Money on Your Tax Return
Plan Your Vacation Around a Business Trip
If you are like most people, you dream of a vacation that pampers, revitalizes, and entertains you,
yet is affordable. By connecting a vacation with a business trip, you can more easily realize your
dream. There are ways to make some of your expenses for trips deductible on your tax return.
Consider a four-day sales meeting in Las Vegas. If you stay for the entire week, the cost of your
meals, lodging, and travel (taxi, bus, shuttle, etc.) for four of those days are deductible because
you have a business purpose for being there, and only the expenses you incur for the days of
vacation are not deductible. Here’s the bonus, the cost of your round trip airfare is deductible in full
since the trip was primarily for business purposes. The fact that you did not spend the entire time
at your sales meeting doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the trip was taken primarily for
business. If your trip to Las Vegas for a week involves only a one-day seminar for business while
you are there, the amount you can deduct is more limited. Because the majority of the week was
not business related, you can only deduct the cost for your directly related business expenses --
meals, travel, and lodging for that one day are allowed as a deduction. Your airfare is not
deductible.
Family members or others who accompany you on a business trip are not deductible unless there
is a business reason for them to come along. They must be your employee or have some other
significant business purpose for traveling with you to be eligible for any deduction.
Plan Your Vacation Around a Business Trip
If you are like most people, you dream of a vacation that pampers, revitalizes, and entertains you,
yet is affordable. By connecting a vacation with a business trip, you can more easily realize your
dream. There are ways to make some of your expenses for trips deductible on your tax return.
Consider a four-day sales meeting in Las Vegas. If you stay for the entire week, the cost of your
meals, lodging, and travel (taxi, bus, shuttle, etc.) for four of those days are deductible because
you have a business purpose for being there, and only the expenses you incur for the days of
vacation are not deductible. Here’s the bonus, the cost of your round trip airfare is deductible in full
since the trip was primarily for business purposes. The fact that you did not spend the entire time
at your sales meeting doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the trip was taken primarily for
business. If your trip to Las Vegas for a week involves only a one-day seminar for business while
you are there, the amount you can deduct is more limited. Because the majority of the week was
not business related, you can only deduct the cost for your directly related business expenses --
meals, travel, and lodging for that one day are allowed as a deduction. Your airfare is not
deductible.
Family members or others who accompany you on a business trip are not deductible unless there
is a business reason for them to come along. They must be your employee or have some other
significant business purpose for traveling with you to be eligible for any deduction.
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