You appear to be using online Self-Employed Edition, so I presume you are referring to the Business Expense section on meals. TurboTax handles 2 types of deductible business meal situations.
Meals deductible at 50% (such as business travel, or seminars, etc.)
or Meals deductible at 100% (some less-common things such as :
- Meal expenses for a company picnic or holiday party
- Food made available to the public for free
- Reimbursed expenses to employees and contractors that is included on the W-2 or Form 1099 as taxable compensation
- Meal expenses that are sold to a client or customer, like providing meals as part of a daycare service
If you're referring to the usual case of 50%-deductible business meals, TurboTax will calculate the amount that is allowed. You enter the actual total amount, and let TurboTax do the math.
When you go through the Business Expense section, you should get to this screen and the explanation which I've pasted here:
" Let's enter the meals expenses for [your business]"
"Most
work-related meals expenses are 50% deductible. Enter the total amount
you spent, and we'll do the math for you when we have all your expenses.
FYI: Entertainment expenses used to also apply to this category, but they are no longer deductible. (click Learn More link for more info.)
Some examples of deductible work-related meals include:
- Meals during business travel
- Meals while conducting business
- Meals at a seminar or conference
- Office snacks
- Other meals expenses
