You may be able to deduct business-related entertainment expenses you have for entertaining a client, customer, or employee.

You can deduct entertainment expenses only if they are both ordinary and necessary and meet one of the following two tests.

1. Directly-related test.
2. Associated test.

The amount you can deduct for entertainment expenses may be limited. Generally, you can deduct only 50% of your unreimbursed entertainment expenses. This limit is discussed later under 50% Limit.

Club dues and membership fees. You cannot deduct dues (including initiation fees) for membership in any club organized for business, pleasure, recreation, or other social purpose. This rule applies to any membership organization if one of its principal purposes is to conduct entertainment activities for members or their guests, or to provide members or their guests with access to entertainment facilities.

The purposes and activities of a club, not its name, will determine whether or not you can deduct the dues. You cannot deduct dues paid to country clubs, golf and athletic clubs, airline clubs, hotel clubs, and clubs operated to provide meals under circumstances generally considered to be conducive to business discussions.

Entertainment. Entertainment includes any activity generally considered to provide entertainment, amusement, or recreation. Examples include entertaining guests at nightclubs; at social, athletic, and sporting clubs; at theaters; at sporting events; on yachts; or on hunting, fishing, vacation, and similar trips. You cannot deduct expenses for entertainment that are lavish or extravagant. If you buy a ticket to an entertainment event for a client, you generally cannot deduct more than the face value of the ticket, even if you paid a higher price.

A meal as a form of entertainment. Entertainment includes the cost of a meal you provide to a customer, or client, whether the meal is a part of other entertainment or by itself. A meal expense includes the cost of food, beverages, taxes, and tips for the meal. To deduct an entertainment-related meal, you or your employee must be present when the food or beverages are provided.

You cannot claim the cost of your meal as an entertainment expense if you are also claiming the cost of your meal as a travel expense.

Taking turns paying for meals or entertainment. Expenses are not deductible when a group of business acquaintances take turns picking up each others' meal or entertainment checks without regard to whether any business purposes are served.

Trade association meetings. You can deduct expenses for entertainment that are directly related to and necessary for attending business meetings or conventions of certain exempt organizations. These organizations include business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, trade associations, and professional associations. The expenses of your attendance must be related to your active trade or business. These expenses are subject to the 50% limit on entertainment expenses.

Additional information. For more information on entertainment expenses, including discussions of the directly-related and associated tests, see chapter 2 of Publication 463.

50% Limit

In general, you can deduct only 50% of your business-related meal and entertainment expenses. (If you are subject to the Department of Transportation's "hours of service" limits, you can deduct a higher percentage. See Individuals subject to "hours of service" limits, later.) This limit applies to employees or their employers, and to self-employed persons (including independent contractors) or their clients, depending on whether the expenses are reimbursed. Figure 28-A summarizes the general rules explained in this section.

The 50% limit applies to business meals or entertainment expenses you have while:

1. Traveling away from home (whether eating alone or with others) on business,
2. Entertaining customers at your place of business, a restaurant, or other location, or
3. Attending a business convention or reception, business meeting, or business luncheon at a club.

Covered expenses. Taxes and tips relating to a business meal or entertainment activity are included in the amount that is subject to the 50% limit. Expenses such as cover charges for admission to a nightclub, rent paid for a room in which you hold a dinner or cocktail party, or the amount paid for parking at a sports arena are also subject to the 50% limit. However, the cost of transportation to and from a business meal or a business-related entertainment activity is not subject to the 50% limit.

Separating costs. If you have an expense for goods and services consisting of meals, entertainment, and other services (such as lodging or transportation), you must allocate that expense between the cost of meals and entertainment and the cost of the other services. You must have a reasonable basis for making this allocation. For example, you must allocate your expenses if a hotel includes one or more meals in its room charge, or if you are provided with one per diem amount to cover both your lodging and meal expenses.

Application of 50% limit. The 50% limit on meal and entertainment expenses applies if the expense is otherwise deductible and is not covered by the exception discussed later in this section.

The 50% limit also applies to activities that are not a trade or business. It applies to meal and entertainment expenses incurred for the production of income, including rental or royalty income. It also applies to the cost of meals included in deductible educational expenses.

Figure 28-A. Does the 50% limit apply?

When to apply the 50% limit. You apply the 50% limit after determining the amount that would otherwise qualify for a deduction. You first determine the amount of meal and entertainment expenses that would be deductible under the rules discussed in this chapter.

Example 1. You spend $100 for a business-related meal. If $40 of that amount is not allowable because it is lavish and extravagant, the remaining $60 is subject to the 50% limit. Your deduction cannot be more than $30 (.50 � $60).

Example 2. You purchase two tickets to a concert and give them to a client. You purchased the tickets through a ticket agent. You paid $150 for the two tickets, which had a face value of $60 each ($120 total). Your deduction cannot be more than $60 (.50 � $120).

Exception to the 50% Limit

Generally, business-related meal and entertainment expenses are subject to the 50% limit. Figure 28-A can help you determine if the 50% limit applies to you.

Your meal or entertainment expense is not subject to the 50% limit if the expense meets the following exception.

Employee's reimbursed expenses. As an employee, you are not subject to the 50% limit if your employer reimburses you under an accountable plan and does not treat your reimbursement as wages. Accountable plans are discussed later under Reimbursements.

Individuals subject to "hours of service" limits. You can deduct a higher percentage of your meal expenses if the meals take place during or incident to any period subject to the Department of Transportation's "hours of service" limits. The percentage is 55% for 1998 and 1999, and it gradually increases to 80% by the year 2008.

Individuals subject to the Department of Transportation's "hours of service" limits include the following persons.

1. Certain air transportation workers (such as pilots, crew, dispatchers, mechanics, and control tower operators) who are under Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
2. Interstate truck operators and bus drivers who are under Department of Transportation regulations.
3. Certain railroad employees (such as engineers, conductors, train crews, dispatchers, and control operations personnel) who are under Federal Railroad Administration regulations.
4. Certain merchant mariners who are under Coast Guard regulations.

Previous | First | Next

Publication 17 | 1998 Tax Year Archives | Tax Help Archives | Home