Can I Write Off Airline Expenses for Work?
The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, considers work-related airline expenses a tax-deductible expense. If your employer reimburses you for the expense, you cannot deduct the expense on your federal tax return, but your employer can. If you are self-employed and your airfare is work-related, you can write off the expense.
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Airfare and Fees
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The IRS considers work-related airfare, taxes and fees to be tax-deductible expenses. Airline fees, required for baggage checked through the gate, are also a tax-deductible expense. If your travel includes additional flights or connecting flights used for personal use, you can only deduct the portion of your airfare, taxes and fees that directly correspond with work-related activities.
Reimbursed Travel Expenses
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If your employer reimburses you for part of your airfare expenses, you can only deduct the portion that was not reimbursed to you. Depending on your employer's filing status, he can deduct the reimbursed portion on his personal return or on the company's federal tax return. If you are self-employed, all work-related airline expenses are deductible.
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Reported on Schedule C
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Work-related airline expenses are reported on Schedule C of tax Form 1040. Airfare and related fees are itemized as a line-item expense on Schedule C. You can only include airline expenses that you paid for during the calendar year on your federal tax return. If your travel also included work-related car or hotel expenses, those expenses are deductible, and must be listed as separate line items on Schedule C.
Job Search
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According to H&R Block, airline expenses related to a job search also qualify as tax-deductible expenses. In order to qualify, "Your job search must be for a job in your current, or most recent, trade or business, and should be at a similar level of responsibility with duties similar to those of your most recent job." Airfare, taxes and fees related to the job search are all tax-deductible expenses.
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References
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