Can I Deduct Business Travel Expenses?

Traveling for work is expensive, and the IRS does allow deductions for legitimate business travel, though the rules have some important boundaries. To qualify, the travel must take you away from your tax home, which is generally the area where your main place of business is located. Deductible costs include airfare, hotel, transportation to and from your destination, and 50 percent of meals while traveling. Personal side trips or leisure activities tacked onto a business trip are not deductible, even if you are already traveling for work. Self-employed workers deduct business travel on their Schedule C, while employees who are not reimbursed generally cannot claim these expenses under current law.