What is necessary for an expense to be categorized as deductible business travel?

For an expense to be categorized as deductible business travel, it is essential that the trip is primarily for business purposes. This means that the main reason for the travel is business-related activities, such as meeting clients, attending conferences, or carrying out company duties. The tax code allows deductions for travel expenses incurred during these business trips as long as they align with the principle of ordinary and necessary expenses.

While documentation of the trip, such as receipts, is important for substantiating the expenses and claiming deductions, the primary criterion remains that the main objective of the journey must be business-related. Personal trips or trips lacking a significant business component do not qualify for deduction, reinforcing the necessity of business intent in categorizing such expenses as deductible.