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Level 2

Solved

Per Diem or M&IE

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 10, 2020
1 reply
2 views

I am self employed web developer with a LLC. I am confused what to claim for Meal Expenses when out of town on business. Do I claim the per diem amount for the city I am visiting or do I claim the M&IE deduction instead?

Thank you for any help.

Meliinda

Best answer by Opus 17

The official federal per diem rates include separate amounts for lodging and M&IE (meals and incidental expenses). When traveling on business, your tax deduction for business expenses is your actual lodging expense (which you prove with receipts) plus either 50% of the M&IE rate or 50% of your actual meals expenses. (If you use the M&IE rate you don’t need meals receipts.) I believe TurboTax does the 50% calculation for you so you will enter the entire amount and let the program do the 50%.

Answer

Level 15

The official federal per diem rates include separate amounts for lodging and M&IE (meals and incidental expenses). When traveling on business, your tax deduction for business expenses is your actual lodging expense (which you prove with receipts) plus either 50% of the M&IE rate or 50% of your actual meals expenses. (If you use the M&IE rate you don’t need meals receipts.) I believe TurboTax does the 50% calculation for you so you will enter the entire amount and let the program do the 50%.

melinda11Author

Level 2

Thank you for the information!

Melinda

Level 15

You also have the choice of using the actual amount you spend on meals.