I work out of town, my employer pays for the hotel but not food expenses, can I deduct the food expense, out of town every week.

[geimerroger]

I travel all around the state on weekly basis with no per diem. They only pay for hotel.

[DianeW · Accepted solution]

Yes, you are entitled to a meal allowance for the days you are required to be away from home overnight for your job.  Keep in mind that the IRS allows a 50% actual deduction for meals.  Enter the full amount of the expense and TurboTax will take care of the limit.

You can use a standard meal allowance instead of keeping all of your receipts.  

• Amount of standard meal allowance. The standard meal allowance is the federal M&IE rate. For travel in 2017, the rate for most small localities in the United States is $51 a day. You can use this for all days if you choose.
• You can choose to look up each city and the number of days to use the actual rate per city.
• Click this link IRS Government Per Diem Rates to use the rates per city.

To record your meal allowance you can use the steps below.  These employee business expenses are used as a miscellaneous expense, subject to 2% of the adjusted gross income (AGI).  The excess will be added with other expenses used on itemized deductions.  If the standard deduction is a greater benefit for you, TurboTax will use the best method for you.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/4800418

[mikeg468]

Hi,

Where and how do I enter the expenses?