Tag Archives: Per diem

Renting to LLC

Today TaxMama® hears from RJ in the TaxQuips Forum, with a travel question. “I am a single member LLC. I have a long-term (3 year) out-of-state contract, which requires me to be physically onsite at the client’s location 75% of the time (3 weeks per month). I am currently renting an apartment and deducting the […]

Using Per Diems

Today TaxMama® hears from Raj in the TaxQuips Forum, with a common issue. Let me summarize. (You can read the discussion here ) His tax return is being audited and the IRS auditor wants copies of receipts for his hotel stays for all his travel. But he used the IRS per diem rates, so he […]

No Per Diem

Today TaxMama® hears from Angel in the TaxQuips Forum, with a naive question. “I travel out of the country, on average, 6 months a year. My company handles everything pretty well, but I do have one question. If we take a day off for whatever reason, we lose our per diem for that day. Is […]

Missing Hotel Receipts

Today TaxMama® hears from Tim in the TaxQuips Forum with this question. “A relative was sent by his company to work far away from home in different places for weeks at a time. He was given a nonaccountable per diem that was included in Box 1 of his W-2. He did not save the hotel […]

Meals Deduction Barely Covers Price of Coffee

If you think American tax laws are tough on meals and entertainment, read this story recently reported by Chelm on the Web. The Israel Tax Authority finally updated the amount that the independently employed can put down on their tax returns as expenditures for wining and dining a business associate. It took a High Court […]

Per Diem Wasted

Today TaxMama hears from Bob in the TaxQuips Forum, who is trying to get it right. Let me summarize.  “I live in NJ and had a temporary job in DC for 6 months in 2010 (total 196 calendar days). I used Pub 1542 [per diem rates] for DC of $258 per day ($65 M&IE and […]

5th Wheel

Today TaxMama hears from Brad in Jacksonville, NC  , who says, “I’ve been considering purchasing a (self-contained) motorhome/fifth wheel RV for use as lodging/office to use on my business travels. Can I write it off?”

Per Diems on 1099s

Today TaxMama hears from Rita in Oklahoma, with this question. “I will issue several 1099’s this year. I need to know how to categorize their ‘’per diem’’ pay. Is it broken out; or does it get lumped together in Box #7-Nonemployee compensation?”

IRS Approves New Per Diem Rates Effective October 1 2009

Courtesy of David and Mary Mellem, EAs IRS has approved new per diem amounts for meals and lodging effective October 1, 2009. These are the same rates which the Federal government uses to reimburse Federal government employees and that we referred to in an email sent out on September 10, 2009. Here are some of […]

Med Student Expenses

Today TaxMama hears from Quincy in New York who wants to know “Can a medical student deduct the expenses of traveling, lodging and meals when looking for internships and residencies? If so, what are the rates? Also, can I deduct the expenses of the board tests ($1,500), and books for school?”

Double Dipping

Today TaxMama hears from George in Texas who has a bet going. “If someone is assigned to work on an offshore oil rig, where all meals and housing are obviously provided, can that person still deduct per diem expenses? Or can a merchant marine worker who lives on the ship and doesn’t incur any meal […]