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Knowing what meals and entertainment deductions you can take for your 2023 taxes can be pretty confusing. What is fully deductible, what is only 50% deductible, and what isn’t deductible at all?
And once you know all that, how do you tell the difference?
It all comes down to what is the purpose of the meal/event and who is benefitting from it.
In the past, it was commonplace to use wining, dining AND entertaining as a way to woo clients. This was a great deal because you could write-off the box seats or the golf game, etc.
But recently, the IRS clarified a few things on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2018 regarding meals and entertainment deductions. One of the biggest changes is that deductions are no longer allowed for entertainment expenses, except for certain employee events.
In 2021, Congress passed a temporary tax incentive called the “Consolidated Appropriations Act” or CAA. As part of that, the 50% deduction for business meals was increased to 100% through the end of 2022. But the deduction was temporary, intended to boost the restaurant industry during COVID, and the rules have gone back to a 50% deduction for most business meals.
What is Considered a Tax-Deductible Expense?
There is still plenty of room for fun with deductions. You just have to be careful about what you’re doing so you can take them. Here’s a quick overview:
100% Deductible
Here are some examples of 100% deductible meals and entertainment expenses:
- The company holiday party or summer picnic (You can still have tax-deductible fun with your employees!)
- Business-promoting meals provided to the public, such as an open house.
- Meals provided as taxable compensation to employees (included on a W-2)
- Business meals that a critical part of your business function (ex. if you’re a food critic or food blogger)
- Meals provided to an employee at work, such as if they’re working late
- Meals provided as taxable compensation to employees or independent contractors, and included on the W2
- Meals sold to a client or a customer
50% Deductible
Here are some examples of 50% deductible meals and entertainment expenses:
- Business meals with clients or colleagues
- Meals while traveling on business
- Treating a few employees to a meal (Note – if it’s at least half of all employees, it’s 100% deductible!)
- Food for an in-office meeting
- Meals at conferences
- Office snacks
What Expenses are NOT Deductible?
- Entertaining a client or customer, whether or not business is discussed
- Tickets to sporting events, even if business is discussed
- Lavish or extravagant expenses
- Club fees or membership dues
- Entertainment facility leasing
This may change a few things about how you do business. Instead of doing business in a box at an NBA game, you may be better off to wine and dine your clients and customers because it’ll be 50% deductible instead of 0% deductible. OR the food at the entertainment can be deductible IF it is billed separately from the entertainment itself.
Make sure that you are reviewing meals and entertainment expenses to be sure you are properly applying the deductions.
What Entertainment Expenses ARE Deductible?
Some employee entertainment costs can still be deducted:
- Employee holiday party expenses
- Expenses for employee award or incentive trips
- Entertainment that is included in employees’ wages, and are reflected on their W2s (though there are some exceptions for highly compensated employees
Criteria for Meals and Entertainment Deductions
In order to deduct business meals, you must be self-employed or operating a business. Employees on W2s no longer qualify for business meals deductions.
The meal expense must be ordinary and necessary in carrying on your business, meaning it cannot be lavish or extravagant.
You, as the business owner, or your employee must be present with at least one other party present (ex. a client or colleague). This does not apply while you or your employees are traveling for business or conferences.
What Are the IRS Requirements for Meal Receipts?
You must keep a proper record of the meal:
- The amount (delivery fees, taxes, and tips can be included)
- The time and place of the meal
- The business purpose of the expense, and
- The business relationship between the taxpayer and the individuals being fed.
If you’d like to review the law yourself, you can find it here.
How We Can Help
We don’t do tax preparation, but we can certainly get your financials in order so you’re ready to hand it all over to your tax accountant.
If you are an ecommerce business owner, you’re aware of how different ecommerce accounting is to regular accounting.
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