If you are a traveling doctor then the ability to take a meal deduction will depend on a few things.
- Are you a W-2 employee of an agency? If you receive a W-2, then you cannot take any deductions related to your work. Employee job related expenses are disallowed through 2025. Even if you received a stipend as part of your wages, you are not able to deduct meal expenses or hotel or any expense related to your W-2 work.
- Did you receive a 1099 for your work? If you did, and you traveled to a temporary location for work, then you could possibly deduct the meals as a business expense. To enter your Per Diem Rates, you will select the following:
- Enter your business income (Self-Employment, 1099-NEC)
- Business Expenses
- Other Common Business Expenses
- Meals and Entertainment
- These meals would be entered as the 50% meals
You're traveling away from home if your duties require you to be away from the general area of your tax home for a period substantially longer than an ordinary day's work, and you need to get sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away. Topic no. 511, Business travel expenses
**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
