topic Can any of my travel expenses be deducted if I work while on vacation? in Deductions & credits

Can any of my travel expenses be deducted if I work while on vacation?

jpecobird12 — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:09:23 GMT

While on a family vacation in February of 2021 (I live in Missouri and vacationed in Florida - drove down), I also worked. Can any of my motel, gas or food expenses be deducted?

Re: Can any of my travel expenses be deducted if I work while on vacation?

ZoltanB45 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 18:48:40 GMT

Generally, you would take a percentage of the expenses as a business expense. You would say I worked 50% of the time so I'll take 50% of the hotel. That is only if you had to go there for work and decided to turn it into a vacation. This does not sound like the case. If you went on a family vacation and brought your laptop and did work, this would not count.

Re: Can any of my travel expenses be deducted if I work while on vacation?

Mike9241 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 20:43:22 GMT

if your were on a family vacation it would seem all your expenses would be personal

Re: Can any of my travel expenses be deducted if I work while on vacation?

Gal13Pek — Wed, 22 May 2024 19:13:11 GMT

What if I had to connect with clients while on vacations?

Re: Can any of my travel expenses be deducted if I work while on vacation?

Hal_Al — Thu, 23 May 2024 12:22:51 GMT

Q. What if I had to connect with clients while on vacations?
A it would depend on the details circumstances of "connect" and "had to". Physically meeting with clients might qualify. Connecting on the phone or computer would not.

You may deduct all expenses that are ordinary and necessary.

For the Meaning of Ordinary and Necessary Expenses, see: http://www.cpa-connecticut.com/ordinary-and-necessary.html

Re: Can any of my travel expenses be deducted if I work while on vacation?

TomD8 — Thu, 23 May 2024 14:18:36 GMT

@Gal13Pek

"Ordinary and Necessary" does NOT include the cost of your vacation.

Re: Can any of my travel expenses be deducted if I work while on vacation?

AmeliesUncle — Fri, 24 May 2024 20:59:41 GMT

It depends on if your travel is "primarily" for business or not. And it depends on if you are in the US or outside the US.

You can look at IRS Publication 463 for details.

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463#en_US_2023_publink100033800