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New Member
posted Apr 14, 2025 5:30:49 PM

When entering my meal expenses during business travel, do I itemize day by day or can I just put total expense for the year?

I am a home health nurse and I travel daily. I am too far away from home to return to my home to make a meal for myself and then continue with my visits on a daily basis. It is more logical for me to grab something to eat in between visiting patients as opposed to adding even more miles just to go home to eat. Can I put just one entry for my meal expenses or do I need to itemize day by day?

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1 Replies
Expert Alumni
Apr 14, 2025 5:35:29 PM

Your meals are a personal expense and aren't deductible. 

Only business-related meals (such as taking a client out for lunch), or meals incurred as part of business travel (overnight or more than 100 miles from home) are deductible.  

Also, job-related expenses such as described above are not deductible for employees who receive a W-2 except for in a few states.