J.K. Lasser's 1001 Deductions and Tax Breaks 2022, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 9Travel

1. Business Travel
2. Temporary Work Assignments
3. Conventions
4. Medical Travel
5. Charitable Travel
6. Education‐Related Travel
7. National Guard and Military Reservist Travel
8. Frequent Flier Miles
9. Recordkeeping for Travel Expenses

We live in a highly mobile age—we are always on the go for work, play, or other activities. We travel by car, airplane, train, ship, bus, and taxi. We spend a lot of money annually on getting around. Of course, the coronavirus severely depressed travel in 2020, but it picked up somewhat in 2021. The tax laws can help to defray some of your travel costs in certain situations.

This chapter explains the types of travel expenses you can deduct. You will find an explanation of recordkeeping rules for travel expenses as well as some forms you can use to comply with these rules.

Prior to 2018, if you entertained customers, clients, or other business associates, you could claim a deduction for entertainment costs (subject to certain limits). However, this write‐off opportunity has been eliminated.

For more information, see IRS Publication 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses; and IRS Publication 1542, Per Diem Rates.

Business Travel

Americans travel quite a lot for business. According to the U.S. Travel Association, U.S. residents logged 464.4 million person‐trips (one person one way on a trip away from home) for business in 2019 (statistics for 2020 and 2021, the years of the pandemic, have not yet been released and business travel isn't expected to return ...