Tax Pro On The Go

Recording Meals

Tax Deductible Expenses

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021 and lasting through December 31, 2022, the IRS is allowing businesses to be able to deduct 100% of the expense of meals that meet certain requirements.

These requirements include:

  • Business Owner, or employee of the business acting on behalf of the owner, must be present

  • Meals must be from a restaurant that serves food to be consumed immediately either onsite or off-site

  • The meal expense cannot be lavish or extravagant

  • The cost CAN include taxes and tips

  • There must be a business purpose for the meeting

Record the following to document the business meal along with a copy of the receipt:

  • Date

  • Meeting participants

  • Meeting topic

  • Restaurant

  • Total of meal including tax and tips

  • Any other pertinent information

I’m attaching an excel sheet below to aid in recording these transactions if you are not already using some type of bookkeeping software.

Meals Record Log

Here are some additional resources from the IRS to ensure you are keeping the correct information as well as meeting the requirements:

Enhanced Business Meal Deduction

Publication 463