Can a Self-Employed Taxpayer Mix Business & Pleasure During Foreign Travel & Still Get a Deduction?

Note: the business expenses discussed in this article – both foreign and domestic – are not deductible by employees from 2018 through 2025. However, they are available to self-employed individuals.

When a self-employed individual makes, a business trip outside of the U.S. and the journey is 100% devoted to business, all ordinary and necessary business travel expenses are deductible, just as if the business trip were within the U.S.

On the other hand, if the trip also incorporates a vacation, then special rules determine the deductibility of the travel expenses to and from the destination; when the other business travel expenses, such as lodging, meals, local travel, and incidentals can be deducted; and when they must be allocated. So, whether you are just visiting Canada, Mexico, or a Caribbean Island or traveling to Europe or even more exotic locales, here are some travel tax pointers:

Primarily Vacation – If your travel is mainly for vacation and you spend only a few hours attending professional seminars or meeting with foreign business colleagues, then none of the expenses you incurred in traveling to and from the general business location are deductible. Other travel expenses must be allocated daily; only the business portion is deductible.

Primarily Business – If your trip is mainly for business and meets one of the conditions listed below, the expenses incurred in traveling to and from the foreign business destination are deductible in total (same as for travel within the U.S.).

(1) The travel outside the U.S. is for one week or less (seven consecutive days, excluding the departure day but including the day of return). In addition, all other ordinary and necessary travel expenses are fully deductible.

(2) Less than 25% of your total time outside the U.S. is spent on nonbusiness activities. In addition, all other ordinary and necessary travel expenses are fully deductible. (If 25% or more of the total time is spent on nonbusiness activities, then a day-by-day allocation of all travel expenses between personal and business activities is necessary, and only the business portion is deductible.)

(3) You can establish that a personal vacation or holiday was not a significant consideration. In addition, all other ordinary and necessary travel expenses are fully deductible.

(4) You did not have “substantial control” over arranging the trip. In addition, all other ordinary and necessary travel expenses are fully deductible. Since a self-employed person generally has substantial control over arranging business trips, self-employed individuals usually won’t be able to meet this condition.

When determining what constitutes business and nonbusiness time, business days include days en route to or from the business destination by a reasonably direct route without interruption; days when the actual business is transacted; weekends or standby days that fall between business days; and days when the company was to have been transacted but was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Nonbusiness days are days you spend on nonbusiness activities as well as weekends, holidays, and other standby days that fall at the end of the business activity if you remain at the business destination for personal reasons.

Foreign Conventions, Seminars, or Meetings – No deduction for your travel expenses to attend a convention, seminar, or similar meeting held outside of the North American area is allowed unless you establish that:

1. The meeting is directly related to the active conduct of your trade or business and 2. It is “as reasonable” for the meeting to be held outside North America as it is within the North American area.

The IRS defines the “North American area” quite broadly and includes not just the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, as you would expect, but also several countries in the Caribbean basin, U.S. possessions, a few Pacific island nations, and some Central American countries. In addition to the USA and the following list of locations, the North American area also includes U.S. islands, cays, and reefs that are territories of the U.S. and not part of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.

American Samoa Jarvis Island

Antigua and Barbuda Johnston Island

Aruba Marshall Islands

Bahamas Mexico

Baker Island Micronesia

Barbados Midway Islands

Canada Northern Mariana Islands

Costa Rica Palau

Curaçao Palmyra Atoll

Dominica Panama

Dominican Republic Puerto Rico

Grenada Saint Lucia

Guam Trinidad and Tobago

Guyana U.S. Virgin Islands

Honduras Wake Island

Howland Island

Jamaica

Cruise Ship Conventions –To deduct the cost of attending a convention related to your trade or business on a cruise ship, the ship must be a U.S. flagship, and all the ports of call must be within the U.S. or its possessions. In addition, the maximum deduction is limited to $2,000 per attendee. The substantiation requirements include certain signed statements by both you and an officer of the convention sponsor.

Spousal* Travel Expenses – Generally, deductions are denied to a business for the travel expenses of a business owner’s spouse, a dependent, or employee accompanying the business owner on a business trip unless:

1. The spouse, etc., is an employee of the taxpayer; and

2. The travel of the spouse, etc., is for a bona fide business purpose; and

3. The expenses would otherwise be deductible business travel expenses for the spouse, etc.

*These rules also apply to a dependent or employee of the taxpayer.

However, the law allows a deduction for the single lodging rate on qualified business trips, and frequently, there is no rate difference between one and two occupants. Thus, virtually the entire lodging expenses for an accompanying spouse will be deductible. The law does not require any allocation when traveling by car because the spouse also travels in the vehicle. Thus, if traveling by vehicle, the entire cost of the business-related transportation would be deductible. This applies to taxis and ride-share vehicles (Uber, Lyft) at the destination.

As you can see, determining the tax deduction for a foreign business trip combined with a vacation can be complicated. Please call this office if you need additional tax guidance when planning such a trip.