Here’s good news for business meals: the Tax Reform removed the “directly related and associated with” requirements from business meals.
The net effect of this change is to subject business meals once again to the pre-1963 “ordinary and necessary” business expense rules.
You are going to like these rules.
Restaurants and Bars
Question 1. If, for business reasons, you take a customer to breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a restaurant or hotel, or to a bar for a few drinks, but you do not discuss business, can you deduct the costs of the meals and drinks?
Answer 1. Yes. Even though you did not discuss business, the law provides that if the circumstances are of a type generally considered conducive to a business discussion, you may deduct the expenses for meals and beverages to the extent they are ordinary and necessary expenses.
Consider this “no discussion” meal a “quiet business meal.”
Question 2. What are circumstances conducive to a business discussion?
Answer 2. This depends on the facts, taking into account the surroundings in which the meals or beverages are furnished, your business, and your relationship to the person entertained. The surroundings should be such that there are no substantial distractions to the discussion.
Generally, a restaurant, a hotel dining room, or a similar place that does not involve distracting influences, such as a floor show, is considered conducive to a business discussion. On the other hand, business meals at nightclubs, sporting events, large cocktail parties, and sizable social gatherings would not generally be conducive to a business discussion.
Meals Served in Your Home
Question 3. Does a business meal served in your home disqualify the deduction?
Answer 3. No, as long as you serve the food and beverages under circumstances conducive to a business discussion. But because you are in your home, the IRS adds that you must clearly show that the expenditure was commercially rather than socially motivated.
Goodwill Meals
Question 4. If, for goodwill purposes, you take a customer and his or her spouse to lunch and don’t discuss business, will the cost of the lunch become non-deductible?
Answer 4. Not if, in light of all facts and circumstances, the surroundings are considered conducive to a business discussion, and the expenses are ordinary and necessary expenses of carrying on the business rather than socially motivated expenses.
Question 5. Is the situation the same if the taxpayer’s spouse accompanies the taxpayer at a dinner for business goodwill reasons?
Answer 5. Yes, the meal is deductible. This is true whether or not the customer’s spouse is present. Again, the meal must meet the ordinary and necessary business expense standards.
Document the Meal Deductions
In conclusion, you need to keep records that prove your business meals are ordinary and necessary business expenses. You can accomplish this by keeping the following:
1. Receipts that show the purchases (food and drinks consumed)
2. Proof of payment (credit card receipt/statement or canceled check)
3. Note of the name of the person or persons with whom you had the meals
4. Record of the business reason for the meal (a short note—say, seven words or fewer)
The costs of your business meals continue to be 50 percent deductible (as they were before the TCJA).
We specialize in helping clients clarify their taxes so they keep more of their money. Many small business owners who come to see us in Fort Worth, TX generally do not understand the tax law enough to explain it to a fifth grader.
If you or someone you know is self-employed or a small business owner, please feel free to contact me by scheduling a call, or by emailing at [email protected].
Tatsiana B. Bender
Bender CPA, PLLC
Fort Worth, TX 76107
[email protected]
Phone: (817) 313-4352
Bender-CPA.com
