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Can I deduct my travel expenses when flying to my rental property?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 1, 2019
2 replies
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I'm particularly interested in a business trip that includes flying to my rental property. I went together with my wife who manages the property to help so we had to bring our young kids. While we were away some of our trip we spent vacationing. I don't want to expense that portion of the trip, but can I expense the flights, lodging and meals for all of us for the business portion of the trip?

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Best answer by view2

The key question to be answered is: was the trip mainly for business or personal reasons? The answer depends on the circumstances, but the main factor is the amount of time you spent on business activities versus personal activities.

If you take a trip that is mainly for personal reasons but includes some work activities, you can’t deduct your transportation expenses, but you can deduct the costs that pertained specifically to your work.

You have to keep rather detailed records .To make your entire trip deductible, the primary purpose has to be business rather than pleasure.

Penalties are serious if you can't substantiate your claim. You could lose the deduction and end up having to pay the tax, plus interest and a penalty.

You can not deduct expenses for your children and their meals.

Carl11_2

You can't expense it for all of you, as I seriously doubt your children have their own vested interest in the property, and are not listed as property owners on the deed, nor are they on the mortgage. If you and your wife are on the deed, you "might" increase your audit risk if you try claiming this for both of you. But there is no issue that I can see with claiming the travel expenses for the primary person listed on the deed, as long as they are the one who signs as landlord on the rental contract.
If you were there for say, a week, you would need to justify paying hotel for every night, as it relates to the rental property. For example, if you few their to replace or supervise the replacement of a water heater, you'd be hard pressed to explain why it took 5 days to do so. So look at things "as if" you work for the IRS - and be picky as all get out, because the IRS is.

V

view2Answer

The key question to be answered is: was the trip mainly for business or personal reasons? The answer depends on the circumstances, but the main factor is the amount of time you spent on business activities versus personal activities.

If you take a trip that is mainly for personal reasons but includes some work activities, you can’t deduct your transportation expenses, but you can deduct the costs that pertained specifically to your work.

You have to keep rather detailed records .To make your entire trip deductible, the primary purpose has to be business rather than pleasure.

Penalties are serious if you can't substantiate your claim. You could lose the deduction and end up having to pay the tax, plus interest and a penalty.

You can not deduct expenses for your children and their meals.