I want to go to Montana to write. Is it a tax deduction?
August 27th, 2012 → 3:09 pm @ Carol
Photo: Wikitravel.org
My friend Nina, the author of The Respect Dare: 40 Days to Improving Your Relationship with God and Your Husband, asked me this question:
If I go to Montana to write for a week, and combine that with a few days of family stuff, can I deduct the trip? Or some of it?
Nina,
That’s a tricky one. Your trip to Montana must have a business purpose such as research (that can only be done there), a conference or meeting clients, etc. If you want to go to Montana to write because the mountains are pretty, that’s a personal choice and not a good enough business reason in my opinion.
The tricky thing about writing is that it can be done anywhere…so frequently a desire to write at the local coffee ship, on the beach, or in Montana makes it look like a personal preference. Our Uncle Sam is not in the habit of indulging our personal preferences with a tax break.
Additionally, taking the family along makes it look like a personal trip, but a business trip.
If you tell me more about why you’re going to Montana, it might be justified as a business trip.
Oh. I didn’t even want to go this year because my husband is taking the kids backpacking. So I thought, oh, I’ll sit in the hotel and write… so, yeah, it’s probably a personal trip. Thanks for the info! -Nina
